Moseley Road Baths in Balsall Heath, Birmingham, has confirmed that Phase Two of its landmark restoration is fully funded, following a £9,272,950 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The award completes a c.£16 million Phase Two funding package that will see one of only a handful of Grade II*-listed swimming baths in the UK reopen as a thriving community destination for swimming, health, wellbeing, culture and events.
Phase Two of the restoration 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 & 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 are focused on restoration of the roofs and making the buildings watertight, basement repairs, alongside the full restoration of Balsall Heath Library – including the addition of a new mezzanine level.
Alongside the Phase Two capital works, the project will deliver a creative programme of public engagement. Hard hat tours, activities and events will run across Balsall Heath and the Library throughout construction and in the lead-up to the Baths’ reopening (currently anticipated to be in late 2028), alongside employment and training opportunities for local people.
New accessibility features – Changing Places facilities (poolside and dryside), pool hoist and pod, lift and ramp access, and wheelchair-accessible changing and viewing areas – will mean Moseley Road Baths is, for the first time in its history, welcoming to all. The National Lottery Heritage Fund supported Activity Plan also includes accessible programming designed to reach diverse audiences, including SEND, LGBTQ+, women-only swims, dementia-friendly swims, para and disability swimming lessons, and sensory swimming.
“This is a transformational moment for Moseley Road Baths, for Balsall Heath, and for our city. Securing the full Phase 2 funding package – and in particular this incredible vote of confidence from The National Lottery Heritage Fund – means that, after years of campaigning by an extraordinary community of staff, volunteers, partners and supporters, and years of hard graft to turn successful campaigning into a plan for the building with a workable business model, we can finally announce, with huge pride, that we will be restoring the magnificent Gala Pool and bringing this remarkable building fully back into public use. We are deeply grateful to National Lottery players, our funders, our coalition partners, a bunch of hugely committed willful individuals, and the people of Balsall Heath whose commitment and belief have enabled us to reach this milestone.” — Lucy Reid, Chair, Moseley Road Baths CIO