Birmingham City Council is aiming to make Birmingham the first city in England to adopt a 20mph speed limit as standard across all residential and local roads, forming part of a wider Birmingham Transport Plan intended to transform the city's transport network by 2031. The Liberal Democrat, Green and independent-led council says the move would reduce the dominance of cars on streets near homes and schools, encourage walking and cycling, and support regeneration and economic growth in local centres, though it has drawn strong criticism from Reform UK, whose councillors describe it as an "anti-motorist" measure that will make navigating the city harder.

Under the plan, all roads below A-road status would have their limit reduced to 20mph, while a 30mph limit would be retained on strategic and distributor routes; city centre access for private cars would also be curtailed in favour of pedestrian, cycling and public transport routes. The proposals come despite Department for Transport guidance from June stating that 20mph limits "should only be used where they are appropriate and supported by evidence", and follow RAC data showing that the number of drivers caught speeding in 20mph zones nationally rose 235 per cent in two years, from 37,219 in 2023 to 125,133 last year. The council maintains that international evidence shows slower speeds reduce collisions and injuries, while Reform UK's Jex Parkin argues 20mph should be applied only where there is a genuine safety need rather than as a blanket default.