Birmingham residents to swim in historic Gala Pool again after £16m funding win

Saira Khan Author 2026-05-22 10:27 4 min read

Facade of a historic white public swimming bath building featuring large windows and modernist architecture.

Contents

Restoration of the iconic Gala Pool and Edwardian architecture
Funding breakdown for the £16 million heritage project
Accessibility and community programming at the heart of the project
Project timeline and upcoming community opportunities

The future of the Grade II* listed Moseley Road Baths has been secured following the award of a £9,272,950 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This final piece of the financial puzzle completes a £16 million investment package, ensuring the full restoration of the iconic Gala Pool and the building’s transformation into a modern community health and wellbeing hub.

Located in Balsall Heath, the Edwardian swimming baths have been the subject of a decades-long community campaign to prevent their closure. The newly confirmed funding allows Phase 2 of the restoration to proceed, which will see the site reopen to a new generation of swimmers, athletes, and local residents. The project is anticipated to reach completion with a public reopening in late 2028.

Restoration of the iconic Gala Pool and Edwardian architecture

The centerpiece of the Phase 2 works is the full restoration of the Gala Pool. This includes the preservation of the mezzanine gallery and the introduction of a new, accessible ground-floor viewing area. The pool, which has been out of use for years, will return to its original purpose as a public swimming facility.

Beyond the water, the building’s historic layout will be adapted for modern community needs:
* Pool 2: To be converted into a flexible space for culture and events.
* Women’s Slipper Baths: Transformation into a dedicated community health and wellbeing hub.
* Men’s Second Class Slipper Baths: Reimagined as a community gym.
* Boiler Room: Development into a flexible studio space for local use.

These works follow Phase 1, which began in September 2025. The initial stage focused on essential structural repairs, including making the building watertight, repairing the basement, and restoring the adjacent Balsall Heath Library, which now features a new mezzanine level.

Funding breakdown for the £16 million heritage project

Securing the future of the baths required a coalition of local and national funders. While the National Lottery Heritage Fund provided the largest single contribution, Birmingham City Council has committed a total of £10 million to the project, with £5.1 million specifically allocated to Phase 2.

Additional financial support includes £970,455 from the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund, which will fund air source heat pumps to improve environmental performance. Other contributors include the Garfield Weston Foundation (£350,000), the Architectural Heritage Fund (£250,000), the Edward Cadbury Trust (£50,000), and the Saintbury Trust (£12,000).

Mayor Richard Parker, chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority, noted that the investment is intended to make the building more sustainable, keeping energy bills down to ensure the doors remain open for future generations.

Accessibility and community programming at the heart of the project

For the first time in its history, Moseley Road Baths will be fully accessible to all members of the community. The restoration includes the installation of Changing Places facilities for both poolside and dryside use, a pool hoist, and new lift and ramp access.

The National Lottery Heritage-funded Activity Plan also outlines a shift toward inclusive programming. Future schedules will include SEND-specific sessions, LGBTQ+ swims, women-only hours, and dementia-friendly swimming. Sensory swimming and para-disability lessons are also planned to ensure the facility serves the diverse population of Birmingham.

Project timeline and upcoming community opportunities

While the major construction work continues, the site will remain a point of engagement for the local community. Hard hat tours and creative activities are scheduled to run throughout the construction period. The project is also expected to generate new employment opportunities, starting with the recruitment of the first-ever CEO for the Moseley Road Baths Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).

Lucy Reid, Chair of the Moseley Road Baths CIO, described the funding as a transformational moment that follows years of hard graft by volunteers and supporters. The building, which was previously listed on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register and the World Monuments Watch, is now on a clear path toward removal from those lists.

Joe Holyoak, Chair of the Friends of Moseley Road Baths, emphasized that the community fought for more than twenty years to reach this point. The restoration ensures that the building will not only be preserved as a landmark but will function as a vital home for the community for generations to come.

Source: Birmingham City Council

Source check Editorial Transparency

This report is based on official funding confirmations from Birmingham City Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund regarding the Phase 2 restoration of Moseley Road Baths.

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