Green light for £16m refurb of ‘iconic’ swimming baths

Plans to restore a Grade two-listed Birmingham swimming baths to their former glory are set to go ahead – after a £9.2m lottery grant was confirmed for the project.

The Moseley Road Baths in Balsall Heath were earmarked for closure in 2017, part of a city council plan to save £6m by closing nine swimming pools across the city.

But the efforts of campaigners who formed a Community Interest Company to take over the running of the site in 2018 have been rewarded with funding for the second phase of restoration works at the building, which first opened in 1907.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund grant comes on top of £5.1m from Birmingham City Council – part of a £10 million total commitment to the project – £350,000 from Garfield Weston Foundation, £250,000 from the Architectural Heritage Fund, £50,000 from the Edward Cadbury Trust, and £12,000 from the Saintbury Trust.

The West Midlands Combined Authority has also awarded £1m from it’s public sector decarbonisation fund, aimed at making efficiency improvements intended to make the building cheaper to run.

Phase one of restoration works at the building, a £32m programme to arrest some of the buildings most serious areas of decline as well as creating a cafe and gym, got under way in 2025.

The second phase of work will follow immediately in 2027, set to include a full restoration of the Gala Pool, including a restored mezzanine gallery and a new accessible ground-floor public viewing area.

Frank Jordan, executive director of city operations at Birmingham City Council, said: “Moseley Road Baths remains one of Birmingham’s most cherished landmarks and an important part of our city’s heritage as well as holding fond memories for many of our residents.

“Birmingham City Council is proud to have committed £10 million towards the restoration of this historic building and we are delighted to be working alongside a brilliant coalition of partners to bring this Edwardian gem back into use as a vibrant hub for swimming, wellbeing and community life, benefiting residents from across Birmingham.”

Joe Holyoak, chair of the Friends of Moseley Road Baths, added: “For more than two decades, our community has fought to keep Moseley Road Baths open and to secure its future.

“Today’s news is a moment of immense pride. We will swim in the Gala Pool again, and this magnificent building will be a home for our community for generations to come.

“We’re hugely grateful to everyone who has played their part in making this happen, and to the swimmers who supported us along the way.”

The West Midlands Combined Authority’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund is part of a £167m energy efficiency fund for the region from