Birmingham Irish community and music venue Nortons publishes open letter about disruption caused by Metro extension work on its doorstep
‘Enough is enough’ says owner as ‘construction works have contributed to a devastating loss of trade for Nortons and neighbouring businesses
Announcement comes as delays to HS2 construction add to pressures on already beleaguered hospitality and NTE ecosystem in Digbeth, Birmingham
Nortons have presented case to Transport Secretary, TfWM chair and Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker, and Midlands Metro Alliance
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Read the Nortons Digbeth open letter on MMA disruption here
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A popular independent NTE and music venue in Birmingham has published an open letter calling for the rapid completion of long-term Metro construction work which has overrun, after significantly disrupting businesses over the last 10 months.
Midlands Metro Alliance (MMA) civil and utility work on Meriden Street, Bordesley Street, Coventry Street and New Canal Street – in the city’s creative and entertainment district of Digbeth – has directly impacted four separate NTE and hospitality venues including Birmingham Irish community space Nortons Digbeth, as well as businesses in other sectors including legal firms and automotive services.
The move comes as MMA work have breached an initial May 2026 completion deadline for the second phase of construction work in Digbeth.
To date, the works have contributed to a decline in footfall, flytipping, additional break-ins, and issues around suppliers, deliveries, and events owing to road closures and reduced access in the area immediately around the work.
Writing to the Digbeth, Birmingham Irish and music community, Nortons Digbeth boss Peter Connolly, has thanked those who have ‘navigated through the labyrinth of road closures and barriers to continue to support us’ however warns that the construction works ‘have contributed to a devastating loss of trade for Nortons and neighbouring businesses’.
In the open letter, published on the Nortons Digbeth website here, as well as on the business’ social media accounts, and in an email to its thousands of supporters, the business says that as a result of ‘a wall of Heras fencing’ outside its Meriden Street home, “visibility of Nortons from Deritend (Digbeth High Street) has been reduced to almost zero, which has completely decimated our passing trade.”
Reflecting feedback from customers leaving the venue late in the evening, Mr Connolly continues, saying ‘And don’t even get us started on trying to get a taxi home through the maze at night, or the fact that the area doesn’t feel safe or welcoming right now.’
As well as asking for supporters to help provide evidence towards its case to the Department for Transport, TfWM chair and Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker, and Midlands Metro Alliance, the Nortons team have made three clear asks:
1. Rapid completion of the MMA construction works
2. Transparency around construction completion dates and any future disruption
3. More investment in the environment around the construction works
Highlighting ‘as HS2 work is further delayed, that MMA work may well be too’, the open letter goes on to explain ‘there is absolutely zero financial compensation available to support independent live music and NTE venues like ours while they tear up the street.’
The compensation scheme that was set up by MMA in March 2019 is only available to businesses with a turnover below 500k – essentially denying support to all pubs and venues in the area.
The letter closes with a reminder of the perilous situation facing Nortons and other Digbeth hospitality and NTE businesses; as the worst trading conditions in the sector’s history are ‘hugely exacerbated by MMA construction works. Now, enough is enough. Our community demands and deserves better.’