Falcon Lodge Youth and Community Centre on Churchill Road in Sutton Coldfield is set to be replaced with a "brand-new facility" after its new owners confirmed the purchase. Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust announced the successful acquisition of the former council site in a late July update, just a month after Birmingham City Council confirmed the sale.
Background and closure
The centre had been a staple of Sutton Coldfield life for many years, but locals were dealt a "real blow" when it closed in 2024. The property was originally a directly managed council community centre before becoming a site run by a charity prior to closure. In July 2026, the Council confirmed the building had been put up for sale.
At the time, a Council report stated: "The purchaser is an established existing local charitable organisation. Their proposal would be to initially demolish the existing buildings and to initially replace with temporary portacabin buildings before ultimately providing a new permanent community facility."
Three-step plan for redevelopment
Dr Francis Murray, chair of the Trustees of Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust, said: "We are delighted to confirm that the purchase of Falcon Lodge Community Centre has now been agreed with Birmingham City Council and legal process to complete the sale is in progress. This purchase means we can now begin a three-step plan that will ultimately result in the creation of a thriving new community facility on the site, which will meet the needs of local people."
Under plans proposed by the charity, the old building will be demolished and replaced with a "tailor made facility" based on the "wishes and needs" of residents in Falcon Lodge. Over the coming months, the Trust intends to knock down the existing building and erect temporary buildings at the site to ensure services can start being provided to local residents as plans for the new-build begin.
Community consultation and engagement
Our Place Support has been appointed to carry out engagement with locals to help shape the new centre. The organisation will consult with local residents, neighbours, schools, charities, businesses, churches and groups to understand what they would like their new community centre to offer. After consultation, with a suitable design in place, the new centre will be constructed based on the wishes of those who live in Falcon Lodge.
Falcon Lodge councillor Richard Parkin said: "This is fantastic news for the whole of Falcon Lodge. It was a real blow when the old centre closed its doors but these exciting and ambitious plans from Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust will deliver a new facility which will be shaped by local people and benefit the entire community."
