Funding makes a huge splash in grade-II listed baths restoration

Credit: Birmingham City Council

Moseley Road Baths and Balsall Heath library have received a boost of £15.5m of Levelling-Up funding.

This latest funding will begin the first phase of a £32.7m transformation for the grade-II buildings to safeguard their future.

Moseley Road Baths were saved from closure thanks to local campaigning and now hosts a programme of swimming and wellbeing activities in the Edwardian baths – but it needs restoration.

The library, built eleven years earlier is well-used in the city but this 125-year-old building is also in need of repair.

Cllr Paulette Hamilton, the cabinet member for health and social care, said: “I’m so pleased the project has received this vital funding which will secure the investments already made and fund much-needed work to the baths.

“The project has always been about so much more than the building though; it supports Balsall Heath community with people at its heart – run for and by local people, but open to the world.”

Several organisations have joined together such as Moseley Road Baths CIO, the Friends of Moseley Road Baths, Birmingham City Council, Historic England, World Monuments Fund, led by the National Trust to develop a vision to restore the buildings so they continue to serve local people as well as a cultural tourist attraction.

Joe Holyoak, chair of Friends of Moseley Road Baths said: “The Levelling-Up grant will enable a significant increase in the benefits in health, education and recreation which the combined baths and Balsall Heath library can bring to the local population in Balsall Heath.

As such, the grant represents a big contribution towards the achievement of the aim of the Balsall Heath Neighbourhood Plan, Birmingham’s first and so far only neighbourhood plan – and a better life for Balsall Heath residents.”

The Levelling-Up grant for Birmingham City Council will be used to fund capital works to the baths and library and provide further investment for the wider area.

Initial works include repairs to the building fabric to prevent further decline as well as restoration of the Edwardian interior and the installation of a lift.

There will also be major improvements to the library including a physical connection to the baths to help boost the range of facilities offered by the buildings.

In addition to the Levelling-Up grant, funding will be made available from Historic England, Birmingham City Council and World Monuments Fund to initiate a 2.5-year programme of capital restoration.

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