Planning submitted for the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre’s transformative renovation
Great news for the Moseley Road Baths as funding is secured for phase two of the restoration project
We are working alongside architects Donald Insall Associates on the multi-phased redevelopment of the Edwardian Grade II* listed Moseley Road Baths and Balsall Heath Library in Birmingham. The project has secured full funding for phase two of the restoration with a Heritage Fund grant to restore the iconic Gala Pool, create a new Community Health and Wellbeing Hub, and reopen the baths to a new generation. We continue to provide MEP engineering, sustainability and acoustic consultancy for the project.
An Edwardian gem
Moseley Road Baths is one of Birmingham’s most important heritage buildings and one of only two Grade II* baths predating 1914 that are still in use. Constructed in 1907, the Edwardian building is currently on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register.
A full restoration of the building is being undertaken across four stages, overseen by the National Trust, including preparation for net zero carbon through passive measures, such as fabric improvements, and the implementation of electrical air-source heat pumps and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery to minimise carbon emissions.
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"Moseley Road Baths is a beautiful building that we have been involved with over a long period of time, starting with reviewing how we might take it off the ancient steam boilers that still heat the pool. We're really excited to see this stunning community building restored and upgraded to make it fit for generations to come and take major steps towards becoming net zero carbon."
Iain Shaw
BEng MCIBSE CEng
Director, MEP Engineering
Partner
Secured funding
The phase two funding includes a £9.27m Heritage Fund grant, completing a £16 million funding package to restore and reopen the listed Edwardian baths for a new generation.
The Heritage Fund grant joins major commitments from Birmingham City Council (£5.1 million towards phase two, part of a £10 million total commitment to the project), the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund (£970,455, supporting environmental performance through air source heat pumps), Garfield Weston Foundation (£350,000), the Architectural Heritage Fund (£250,000, supporting the creation of a wellbeing hub), the Edward Cadbury Trust (£50,000) and the Saintbury Trust (£12,000).
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© Donald Insall
© Donald Insall Associates
Phase two delivery
Phase two of the funding will deliver:
- Full restoration of the iconic Gala Pool, including a restored mezzanine gallery and a new accessible ground-floor public viewing area
- Conversion of Pool 2 into a flexible event space
- Transformation of the Women’s Slipper Baths into a community health and wellbeing hub
- Reimagining of the Men’s Second Class Slipper Baths as a community gym
- Development of the boiler room into a flexible studio space
Phase two will follow directly on from phase one works, which commenced in September 2025 and focused on restoration of the roofs and making the buildings watertight, basement repairs, installation of new electrical air source heat pumps and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery alongside the full restoration of Balsall Heath Library – including the addition of a new mezzanine level.
Moseley Road Baths will, for the first time in its history, be welcoming to all - the baths will be fully accessible with Changing Places facilities (which are accessible, larger public toilets for severely disabled people) both poolside and dryside, a pool hoist and pod, lift and ramp access, and wheelchair-accessible changing and viewing areas. The Baths will also include inclusive and accessible programming.
The project will deliver creative public engagement alongside employment and training opportunities for local people throughout phase two construction.
