Orion Building Safety Works and Navigation Street Closure

Providing updates on the ongoing building safety works and road closure

Last updated: 11 November 2026

Latest position at a glance

• Remediation works are underway, following resolution of the regulatory position and mobilisation of the appointed contractor, Unite.
• The slip road from Navigation Street onto Suffolk Street Queensway remains closed. There is currently no confirmed reopening date.
• A temporary weekend traffic system has been introduced to help reduce congestion around Hill Street and Navigation Street during the festive period.
• Working with Birmingham City Council, we can confirm that the traffic trial should continue until Christmas, following encouraging initial feedback. Further traffic analysis is ongoing.

Introduction

We recognise the prolonged road closure has caused significant disruption for residents, local businesses, commuters and visitors to Birmingham city centre. We also understand the particular concerns about access and congestion during the Christmas trading period.

This page provides a central source of information about the building safety works at Orion, why the slip road remains closed, and the temporary traffic arrangements introduced to help manage the impact.

Our priority is to progress the works and establish the earliest point at which the road can safely reopen. Decisions about reopening must be supported by specialist structural engineering advice and coordinated with Birmingham City Council.

What works are happening now?

Unite has been appointed to carry out the remediation works. Following resolution of the regulatory position in October, mobilisation progressed and scaffold works commenced from 28 October 2026.

The initial stage involves adapting the scaffolding to enable the affected external masonry to be removed safely. This is specialist work requiring a controlled sequence to protect the workforce, building occupants and people in the surrounding area.

The works will progress through scaffold alterations, removal of the affected masonry, and subsequent removal of temporary structures when it is safe to do so.

We will update this page as the project reaches key milestones and the programme becomes clearer.

Why does the slip road remain closed?

Structural engineers have identified concerns with part of Orion’s external brickwork system. Part of the affected brickwork has already detached, demonstrating the need to maintain a protected area below.

More recent investigations have also raised concerns about the stability of brickwork below the area that originally failed. The risk therefore extends beyond the visibly damaged section.

The road cannot reopen simply because work has started or because the most visibly affected material has been removed. The project’s structural engineers must first be satisfied that the remaining risk has been sufficiently controlled.

It may be necessary to remove the full affected brickwork system before that assurance can be provided.

When will the road reopen?

We cannot currently provide a confirmed reopening date, including an assurance that the slip road will reopen before Christmas.

The project team is assessing whether reopening can safely take place before all building works are complete. This will depend on the condition of the remaining masonry, progress with its removal, and the structural engineer’s assessment.

Any reopening will also need to be coordinated with Birmingham City Council, including the safe removal or alteration of scaffolding, barriers and traffic management where required.

We understand the importance of a reliable date for residents and businesses. We will publish one when there is sufficient technical and programme certainty to do so.

Temporary weekend traffic arrangements

To help reduce the impact of the closure during the festive period, Centrick and Unite have worked with Birmingham City Council and traffic management provider HTM to introduce a temporary traffic trial.

The trial began on Friday 6 November 2026 and introduces one-way movements and signed diversions around Hill Street and Navigation Street.
The aim is to reduce conflicting traffic movements at busy junctions and help vehicles move through the area more efficiently.

When does the temporary system operate?

The planned operating period is:

• Approximately 9:30am on Fridays until 8:00pm on Sundays, on festive weekends through to Christmas.
• Drivers should follow the signs and instructions in place on the day, as arrangements may be adjusted following monitoring.

What does this mean for access?

Businesses remain accessible, although drivers may need to use a different route to reach or leave their destination.

Key points shown on the traffic plan include:

• The on-slip from Navigation Street onto Suffolk Street Queensway remains closed.
• Suffolk Street Queensway and the tunnel route to and from Holloway Circus remain open in both directions.
• Temporary one-way restrictions and diversions apply around Hill Street and adjoining streets.
• Turning restrictions apply at some junctions, including no left turn from Suffolk Street Queensway into Suffolk Place.
• Drivers using Birmingham New Street’s drop-and-go facilities should follow the signs towards Navigation Street.

Please allow additional journey time and follow the signed routes, even if your navigation app suggests a different route.

Traffic management map

View the Hill Street one-way system and diversion plan below.

The map shows the main diversion, local access routes and restrictions. On-site signs and traffic management instructions take priority over the map. Please click on the map to view as a pdf.

What has the traffic trial shown so far?

Birmingham City Council’s initial feedback has been encouraging.

The council has advised that early information from the first trial weekend suggests conditions across the wider network were no worse than a normal Saturday, despite this being the first Christmas Market weekend and coinciding with a Birmingham City home match.

The council also reported that the queues normally experienced around the Hill Street and Navigation Street junctions did not develop in the usual way.

Traffic counts are still being analysed and further stakeholder feedback is being gathered. These are therefore preliminary findings, rather than a final assessment.

Based on the initial feedback, the council has confirmed that the trial should continue as planned until Christmas. Arrangements after Christmas will need to be reviewed with the council.

Timeline

Why has the project taken this long?

The project has required detailed investigation to establish the cause and extent of the masonry defects, followed by the development of a safe method of remediation.

Alongside the engineering work, the project team has needed to resolve contractual responsibilities, agree funding arrangements with the original developer, appoint a specialist contractor and establish the appropriate regulatory route.

Further survey findings have also widened the concern beyond the area that initially failed.

We recognise that much of this work was not visible from street level and that the length of the closure has been frustrating. With physical works now underway, the focus is on progressing remediation safely and identifying when the highway risk has been sufficiently reduced to allow reopening.

Could temporary protection allow the road to reopen sooner?

Alternative ways of protecting the highway have been considered throughout the project.

The original scaffold was installed primarily to provide access for investigations and surveys, with a limited protective function. Its presence does not mean the road beneath it can safely reopen.

Any additional temporary protection would need to be assessed by the structural engineer as adequate for the risks identified. To date, the necessary assurance to reopen the road using temporary measures has not been available.

The possibility of earlier reopening remains under review as the works progress.

Information for residents and local businesses

Residents should continue to follow building-specific notices and any access instructions issued by the site team. This public page supplements direct communications about matters affecting individual properties or building access.

Local businesses are encouraged to share the traffic management map with customers, staff, delivery companies and service providers so journeys can be planned in advance.

Further updates

We will use this page to report significant developments, including:

• Progress through the main stages of the remediation works.
• Changes to the anticipated programme.
• Changes to temporary traffic arrangements.
• Confirmation of when the slip road can safely reopen.

Next scheduled update: by 10 January 2027, or sooner if there is a significant development.

Thank you for your continued patience while these essential safety works are carried out.