Birmingham could become the first city in the UK to ban private cars from driving through its centre as part of a drive to significantly cut pollution levels.

In a transport plan published this morning, the council said that traffic flows would be “re-modelled” so that private vehicles will not be able to make journeys straight through the centre, as it pushes for more pedestrianised zones.

Under the proposals, people would still be allowed to drive into the city, but would have to go back out using the surrounding ring road to access other areas.

Permanent access to the centre would only be reserved for “logistics and service vehicles”.

There are also plans to reroute the A38, to introduce 20mph speed limits in residential areas and to use the city’s tunnels for public transport only.

Birmingham City Council committed themselves last year to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and said that road transport currently accounts for a third of CO2 emissions in Birmingham.