Councillor Richard Parkin, representing Sutton Reddicap ward, has provided residents with an update on the future of the Falcon Lodge Community Centre, which has been closed for nearly two years. In a Facebook post on Saturday afternoon, he confirmed that the proposed sale of the building will be considered at the next Birmingham City Council Cabinet Property Committee meeting on Monday, July 20.
Background to the Closure
The community centre, once operated by charity Compass Support, closed in 2024 when its lease with Birmingham City Council ended and the building was handed back. The site has since remained unused, prompting discussions about its future.
Planning Permission for Demolition
At the end of June, BirminghamLive reported that the Sutton Coldfield Community Trust had applied for planning permission to demolish the existing Falcon Lodge Community Centre to make way for an "all new facility." Councillor Parkin expressed his excitement about the potential redevelopment.
In his July 11 update on the Reddicap Ward News page, Councillor Parkin wrote: "Important update on the Falcon Lodge Community Centre. I can confirm that the proposed sale of the Falcon Lodge Community Centre building will be considered at the next Birmingham City Council (BCC) Cabinet Property Committee meeting on Monday July 20th. The building has been closed for almost two years and was declared surplus at a previous BCC meeting in December 2024."
Details of the Proposal
The councillor shared excerpts from a council document available for public view ahead of the meeting, outlining the proposal for the site. The document states: "The purchaser is an established existing local charitable organisation, and 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."
According to the report, "It is recommended to proceed with the transaction outlined in this report. The proposed sale offers best value." Councillor Parkin added that the Commissioners at BCC are also supporting the recommendations for disposal.
Support from Scrutiny Committee
The Chair of The Economy, Skills and Culture Overview & Scrutiny Committee provided feedback in the report, stating: "I welcome this report and opportunity that this disposal will open up for the residents of Sutton Reddicap. I note the hard work of many partner organisations, campaigners, groups and ward Councillor Cllr Richard Parkin in their consideration and input to consultation meetings and discussions regarding the future use of this much loved and valued community asset."
Subject to approval at the July 20 meeting, the sale would mark another significant milestone for the Falcon Lodge Community Centre, following the recent submission of a separate planning application to demolish the building.
