After two decades of dedicated campaigning and challenges, the future of Birmingham's historic Moseley Road Baths has been secured with a £9.2 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This final piece of funding completes a £16 million package to restore the oldest swimming baths in Birmingham to their former glory, with enhanced accessibility and modern facilities.
Celebrations in Balsall Heath
News of the grant has sparked celebrations in Balsall Heath, where the community has long rallied to protect the baths. In 2019, concerns were raised that the baths could be lost, but persistent efforts have now paid off. The funding will enable a new updated baths, community gym, health and wellbeing hub, event space, and more.
Lucy Reid, chair of the Moseley Road Baths CIO, described the achievement as "a story of wilful individuals and collective action, showing just how potent that can be." She told BirminghamLive: "This city needs and deserves spaces like this, and so much of our heritage has been lost. Swimming in this space is a better experience than swimming anywhere else! Why shouldn't we have this in our city? Birmingham deserves it."
Reid added: "We, as a group of trustees, are so happy and so relieved. The thought of going out to people and saying we tried and we didn't get it over the line was almost unbearable. We've got such a wonderful team around us, contractors, architects, all partners. It's a real collective effort inspired by what Balsall Heath needs."
Reflecting on personal memories, Reid said: "My kids learnt to swim in that pool. I have this strong memory of riding the number 50 into town and watching kids from local schools walk down the hill in their high-vis vests carrying plastic bags with their swimming kit. Knowing where they were going and how it would sound when they were in the water was the strongest driving factor."
She emphasised the importance of civic spaces: "We need civic spaces for everyone. Given what is happening in the wider world and how disconnected we are from each other, spaces like this that enable people to come together are so critical to the fabric of our city and neighbourhoods. The baths will be that, and there'll be nothing like it. There'll be swimming, art, gigs, community garden, seaweed baths, ice baths, the best SEN swimming provision in the country!"
Community Pride and Gratitude
Joe Holyoak, chair of the Friends of Moseley Road Baths, said: "For more than two decades, our community has fought to keep Moseley Road Baths open and 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."
Renovation Plans
The first phase of renovation began in September 2023, focusing on making the building watertight, repairing the basement, and fully restoring Balsall Heath Library with a new mezzanine level. The second phase will bring the historic Gala Pool to its full potential, convert pool two into an event space, transform the Women's Slipper Baths into a community health and wellbeing hub, reimagine the Men's Second Class Slipper Baths as a community gym, and turn the boiler room into a flexible studio area. The Gala Pool will feature a restored mezzanine gallery and a new public viewing area on the ground floor for full accessibility. The project is expected to be completed by late 2028.
Funding Breakdown
The £9.2 million Lottery grant joins major commitments from Birmingham City Council (£10 million, half for the second phase), the West Midlands Combined Authority's public sector decarbonisation fund (£970,455 for environmental performance via air source heat pumps), the Architectural Heritage Fund (£250,000 for a wellbeing hub), the Garfield Weston Foundation (£350,000), the Edward Cadbury Trust (£50,000), and the Saintbury Trust (£12,000).
Accessibility and Community Activities
Before the baths fully open, hard hat tours, activities, and events will be held across Balsall Heath, along with employment and training opportunities. New accessibility features include two Changing Places facilities, a pool hoist and pod, a lift, ramp, and wheelchair-accessible changing and viewing areas. An activity plan funded by the lottery will offer SEND, LGBTQ+, women-only, dementia-friendly, para and disability swimming lessons, and sensory swimming.
Why Funding Was Granted
Liz Bates, director (England, Midlands and East) at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "Moseley Road Baths is one of the most outstanding historic swimming pools in the UK. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are delighted to award £9,272,950 to bring its iconic Gala Pool back into public use and create a community health and wellbeing hub at its heart. This is exactly the kind of project National Lottery players make possible - heritage that lives, breathes, and serves its communities."
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, holding fond memories for many residents. We are proud to have committed £10 million towards this restoration and delighted to work with a brilliant coalition of partners to bring this Edwardian gem back into use as a vibrant hub for swimming, wellbeing, and community life."
Mayor Richard Parker, chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority, said: "Moseley Road Baths is a real Birmingham icon, and it's now closer than ever to reopening because local people never gave up on it. I'm proud to back them with funding to make the baths more sustainable and keep energy bills down. This is the first of many investments I'm making to secure the long-term future of valued public buildings that provide important services to our communities. For Moseley Road Baths, that means keeping the pools warm and the doors open for many more generations of Brummies to enjoy."
