If you’ve driven into Birmingham recently, especially around the Jewellery Quarter, you won’t need anyone to tell you the roads feel rougher than they should. Whether you’re arriving for a meal on St Paul’s Square, visiting a jeweller for an engagement ring, or commuting through the inner ring road, it’s hard to ignore the bangs, jolts and constant swerving to avoid broken tarmac.
So what’s behind it, what’s being spent (or promised), and what does the data actually say about potholes and vehicle damage?
Why the Jewellery Quarter feels the problem so sharply
The Jewellery Quarter is one of Birmingham’s most characterful areas. Part of that character is its streets. Historic layouts, older surfacing, heavy day-to-day loading (deliveries, vans and construction traffic) and constant utility works all combine to create a perfect storm.
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Older road structure combined with repeated trenching (water, gas and broadband) can weaken the base layer.
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Stop-start traffic and tight junctions put extra strain on already tired surfaces.
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Winter water and freeze-thaw cycles accelerate cracking, which quickly becomes potholes.
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Historic streetscapes often mean patch repairs stand out more and can feel harsher under wheels.
That matters in a place like the Jewellery Quarter because it’s not just about comfort. Poor road conditions affect visitors, cyclists, motorbikes, taxis, deliveries and the “last mile” of getting to independent businesses.
The bigger picture: potholes aren’t a small issue anymore
Nationally, the pothole story has moved beyond annoyance into long-term infrastructure decline.
A major industry survey (the Asphalt Industry Alliance’s ALARM report) estimates that bringing local roads up to an “ideal” condition would cost £16.81bn and take around 12 years as a one-off catch-up programme. It also reports that roads are resurfaced, on average, once every 93 years, and that 1.9 million potholes were filled in a single year at a cost of £137.4m.
And it’s not only drivers who are affected. In the same ALARM release, the RAC’s Head of Policy described a “bleak picture” and warned that in too many places road surfaces are “not fit for purpose.”
The cost to motorists: repairs, breakdowns and claims
When a pothole does damage, it’s rarely cheap and it’s not always limited to a puncture.
The RAC reports that for anything more serious than a simple puncture, drivers can face bills up to £590 when a car needs garage work after hitting a pothole.
On compensation, the RAC’s analysis (based on FOI responses) shows pothole claims are rising sharply.
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Claims submitted to 177 local authorities rose by 91%, from 27,731 (2021) to 53,015 (2024).
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The RAC also reports that only 26% of claims were settled in 2024, with average payouts around £390, often less than the repair cost.
Separately, Kwik Fit estimated the total annual cost of pothole-related vehicle damage to UK drivers at £1.7bn, with an average repair bill of £144 (and many drivers paying far more).
What about Birmingham specifically?
Reliable local pothole counts can be tricky because councils record repairs differently (temporary versus permanent fixes, reactive versus planned works). However, Birmingham is referenced in recent national reporting using council-provided figures.
Full Fact reported that Birmingham City Council estimated it filled 4,514 potholes in 2024/25, down from 9,332 in 2023/24, and estimated 6,788 for 2025/26.
That swing doesn’t necessarily mean roads are suddenly “better” or “worse” year to year. It can reflect weather, reporting and the mix of planned resurfacing versus patching, but it does show how visible the problem has become.
Is any money being spent, or promised, on fixing roads?
Yes, but funding is a patchwork of national allocations, regional settlements and local delivery.
National funding: £1.6bn for 2025/26 (England)
Government documentation for local highways maintenance funding says the Autumn Budget announced nearly £1.6bn in capital funding for local highways maintenance in England for 2025/26, including £500m additional compared to 2024/25 levels.
It also states that a portion of the uplift is tied to councils meeting certain transparency and best-practice requirements.
West Midlands: plans to double council funding (but Birmingham is a special case)
In February 2026, the Mayor of the West Midlands set out plans to double the funding given to six councils for highway maintenance over five years from April 2027, proposing £240m (up from £120m).
The Mayor also said he previously secured an additional £20m from the Department for Transport to top up road repair budgets for 2025–27.
However, and this is important for readers, the same announcement notes that Birmingham City Council’s road repairs are funded through a separate private finance initiative (PFI) process. So Birmingham does not always sit neatly inside the same funding pots or reporting routes as neighbouring authorities.
Accountability and performance: Birmingham rated “Amber”
The Department for Transport now publishes a local road maintenance ratings system. For 2025/26, Birmingham is rated Amber overall, with Amber for road condition and wider best practice, and “No rating” shown on the spend scorecard because of the different funding arrangements mentioned above.
Real local works: Soho and Jewellery Quarter highway works
Beyond high-level funding, there are also specific contracted works connected to the area. A published contract notice covers “Dudley Road, Soho and Jewellery Quarter Highway Works” (A457 Dudley Road Phase 4), with a contract value of £788,481 (including VAT) and dates from 15 December 2025 to 24 December 2026.
A wider delivery vehicle: £640m of a £980m highways framework earmarked for Birmingham City Council
Birmingham is also linked to a major “Highways and Infrastructure Works Framework Agreement” notice showing an estimated £980m framework value, with £640m of that intended for Birmingham City Council over an eight-year period.
Local impact: “people are changing what they drive”
Potholes don’t just affect repair garages. They shape buying decisions too, especially for people who do a lot of city driving.
Kris at Quality Cars & Commercials in Birmingham says the state of local roads is increasingly part of the conversation in their showroom.
“We’ve definitely seen more customers across Birmingham asking about SUVs and 4x4s, not for off-roading, but simply because they feel more confident dealing with poor road surfaces, potholes and uneven streets day to day.”
You can browse their current stock and dealership details at Quality Cars & Commercials.
What you can do (without turning this into a blame game)
Potholes happen and people working in highways teams are often dealing with limited budgets, urgent safety issues and difficult weather cycles. However, there are practical steps residents and visitors can take.
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Drive carefully in wet weather. If you cannot see the depth of a puddle, assume the worst.
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Check tyres and alignment if your car feels “off” after a pothole impact.
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Document damage quickly with photos and location details.
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Understand that compensation claims may not always cover the full repair cost.
A Jewellery Quarter view: roads are part of the visitor experience
The Jewellery Quarter is a national destination for jewellery, heritage, food and independent retail. Roads may not be glamorous, but they affect:
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whether visitors feel confident driving in and parking
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deliveries for small makers and workshops
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cycling and walking safety
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the overall impression of the area
There are signs of planned work and funding mechanisms in play, from national maintenance allocations to regional investment plans and local contracts mentioning Soho and the Jewellery Quarter.
For now though, many drivers will agree on one thing. When it comes to Birmingham’s roads, a smoother journey would be welcome.