£32m restoration to secure future of iconic Birmingham buildings

ISG will deliver phase 1 building works to restore and redevelop one the oldest of six Grade II* Listed swimming baths in the UK.

Moseley Road Baths and Balsall Heath Library will undergo a £32.7m transformation to safeguard the future of the listed buildings.

Both faced closure for many years but local campaigners have fought to keep the facilities open. ‘Friends of Moseley Road Baths’ secured the interest of the World Monuments Fund, which included the Baths on the 2016 World Monuments Watch to call attention to the planned closure.

After a coalition formed between Birmingham City Council, Moseley Road Baths CIO, Historic England, World Monuments Fund, National Trust, and the Friends of Moseley Road Baths, it has since successfully bid for £15.6m funding from the UK government and in 2022 received £477K in a Development Phase grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The first phase of the project will be in four stages, beginning with crucial roof and façade works, which will see scaffolding erected in September.

This phase will also see:

• Introduction of a café into the Second-Class Slipper Baths
• Reconfiguration of the visitor spaces, especially in the reception areas
• Reinforcement works to the basement and foundations − Installation of renewable energy including air source heat pumps
• Access improvements, including creating permanent level access on entry and installation of the first of three new lifts to the buildings

After months of public engagement and four pilot activities, plans have been shaped through community feedback made possible through the £477K grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The pilot activities created 205 Birmingham-based freelance opportunities and featured collaborations with 33 different local organisations. 36 people had a ‘Slipper bath’. More than 4,000 people visited ‘Balsall Heath’s Living Room’. Six young people (18-30) were employed to develop their creative and employability skills leading to a podcast series “Bathcasts” interpreting the Baths’ heritage. 6000 people visited Balsall Heath Library’s ‘Imaginarium’ whose centre piece sculpture designed by Intervention Architecture was longlisted for a RIBA McEwen award.

Phase 2 is subject to further funding, and will see the restoration of the iconic Gala Pool and converting Pool 2 into a permanent hireable event space.

Cllr Saima Suleman, cabinet member for digital, culture, heritage and tourism said: “Swimming, health and wellbeing have always been at the centre of this project. It’s vital the future of this amazing building can be secured but as we’ve always said, the project has been about so much more than the building. This is such an exciting project that will have such a positive impact for the Balsall Heath community, which is one of the most deprived wards in the city.”

The building works have been designed by Donald Insall Associates, supported by Max Fordham, Mann Williams and Artelia, and Project Managed by global programme and project delivery consultants and construction experts Mace.

Luke Arnold, Regional Director at ISG said: “We are delighted to undertake phase 1 major construction work at Moseley Road Baths, an iconic landmark in South Birmingham, supporting the local and city wide community to realise the full benefits and legacy of this exciting project for current and future generations.”