Happy New Year! I wanted to use my column this month to share some good news for 2024 about a major development in Digbeth, the spiritual home of Birmingham’s Irish Community. The final section of tram track has been welded into place in Digbeth, in a significant milestone for the Birmingham Eastside Metro extension.

This achievement signals the end of track laying and the current phase of construction along Digbeth High Street and follows the completion of works on the first section of the line at Lower Bull Street.



The Digbeth stretch of the route has also been enhanced with new paving, green infrastructure and landscaped areas as part of Birmingham City Council and the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership’s (GBSLEP) plan to regenerate the area.

With the full line now set to open later than planned due to HS2’s work at Curzon Street, plans have been also approved to allow a temporary terminus to be installed at Moor Street Queensway allowing passengers to start using part of the route by 2025/26.

I know just how important Digbeth is to our Irish Community, and I would like to thank all the businesses, residents and visitors for their patience during the work.

The completion of main construction along Digbeth High Street is fantastic news for those living and working there, and it’s wonderful to see how Digbeth has been transformed with the new track, paving and greenery. 

Digbeth has always been an innovative, cultural and colourful place – right now it’s turning into the heart of our region’s media sector – and linking the area to our growing Metro network will bring even more connectivity and opportunity.

While there will still be some activity in the area, teams will of course continue to work closely with partners to minimise disruption wherever possible.



There is so much to look forward to this year in Digbeth in 2024, from the growing media hub in the area to the return of the St Patrick's Day parade – but this is a great way to start the year!

Welcome to another Birmingham Irish Association news update

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