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Traders losing thousands over city centre roadworks

Charlotte Bentonin Birmingham
News imageBBC A metal bridge placed over a pavement that has been taken up so it can be replaced. The bridge leads to a barbershop that has a large window at the front. A metal fence is around the pavement that's been taken up and has signs pinned to it that read "business open as usual" and "pedestrians" with an arrow., BBC
The work on the section of New Street in front of Piccadilly Arcade is expected to be finished later this month

Independent business owners in Birmingham city centre say they are losing thousands of pounds every week due to ongoing works to improve the footpaths.

It is part of a two-year project that started in January to improve areas across the city, including re-paving paths and upgrading street lighting.

David Sturgeon, founder of Shepherds barbershop, said since the work started in-front of his salon in Piccadilly Arcade on New Street, he has lost about £12,000 in trade, compared to the previous month.

The city council said it had worked to keep the city open for business but added any reduction in footfall did not entitle traders to compensation.

Sturgeon described how the area outside his shop was a "dead-zone" and said he had lost "40-50% of his walk-in trade" which had been "way more" than he had expected.

"I knew it was going to be bad, but I didn't think it would be this bad," he said.

Prior to the construction work, he said his chairs would be "fully-booked day-in day-out."

"To suddenly have that cut off, it was a big punch to me and an unpleasant surprise."

The owner said although he had been able to pay his rent and staffs' wages, he had decided not to pay himself as a result of the drop in footfall.

News imageA man standing in a hair salon in front of a sink and mirror. He has a straight face and is wearing a denim, long-sleeve shirt and glasses. He has short, dark grey hair with a small quiff.
David Sturgeon owns Shepherds barbershop and said the drop in trade had taken him by surprise

Sturgeon stressed that he needed the work to be completed as soon as possible as he was concerned it could otherwise have a longer-term impact.

"So many of us [independent businesses] make our extra cash to get us through January and February in November and December, we'd just be done for really. It's really bad.

"The income just isn't coming to buy the stock ready for Christmas, to get gifting ready, if these are our purchasing months and this is quiet, everything else becomes quiet.

"That's the bit I worry about. Once the dominos start to fall, how far does it go," he added.

The owner said that clients had been understanding, but it was hard to keep staff morale up.

"There's only so many times you can clean a shelf... after two or three weeks there becomes nothing else to do but hope that people start to walk through the door," Sturgeon added.

News imageA man in a white top with a cream jacket over it standing in front of a clothing rail with clothes and coat hangers hanging from it. He has thick, dark grey hair in a quiff and is smiling.
Sayed Hashemi from Top Tailor in the arcade said he had struggled to pay his rent due to the lack of trade

During the two-year project areas that are being improved also include Bennetts Hill, Ethel Street and Temple Street.

Sayed Hashemi, director of Top Tailor in Piccadilly Arcade, said the impact on his business had been very similar to what he experienced during Covid.

"We are really quiet, we lose customers and we can't take our deliveries for dry cleaning."

He added that custom had dropped by 50% and he could not afford to pay his rent.

The tailor said the noise from the digging frequently made the room shake while he worked and he believed it was why people had avoided the area.

"We didn't [pay] last month and we will have to see what we can do. If it's going to be like this we may have to close down," Hashemi said.

"It is difficult. I don't know what I should do, we are worried."

News imageConstruction work taking place on New Street in Birmingham. The middle of the street is fenced off and the stones have been taken up. The middle section is rubble with a roller and pipes placed around it while the path is rebuilt. A thin stretch of red paving stones remain one each side of the street.
The works, as pictured in October, have been under way since August

Josh Moran works as a barista at Faculty, a coffee shop in Piccadilly Arcade. He also said he had noticed less customers had come through the door.

"Normally we get people coming up and down from both ends of the arcade, but it's definitely been a bit quieter with less people walking past," Moran added.

"It does have an impact on the business, it means the days go a bit slower. It's not great [for business] and it wouldn't be good if it lasted", he said.

The city council said it recognised major construction works can affect businesses.

"Throughout these works, our main objective, has been to keep Birmingham open for business while these public realm improvement works are carried out - which will make the city centre a safer, more attractive and accessible place to live, work and visit."

It added where highway works were properly carried out any reduction in footfall did not automatically entitle traders to compensation.

"We have worked with our contractors to mitigate the impact of these works as far as possible: maintaining access wherever practicable, engaging directly with businesses affected responding to their concerns, and completing the works as safely and efficiently as possible.

"Works are due to be completed by the end of this month (November 2026)."

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