Galliford Try's Moseley Road Baths restoration draws BBC visit during National Heritage Week

Galliford Try's restoration of Moseley Road Baths in Birmingham, one of six Grade II* listed swimming baths in the UK, attracted a visit from BBC West Midlands during the National Trust's National Heritage Week, the contractor said on 16 October.

Kevin McCloud MBE, presenter of Channel 4's Grand Designs, joined one of a series of guided tours Galliford Try ran with the National Trust to show the public the works in progress. The BBC team visited the site afterwards, Galliford Try said.

Simon Courtney, Managing Director for Galliford Try Building West Midlands and South West, said: "Seeing Moseley Road Baths featured by the BBC is fantastic recognition for a project that means so much to the local community."

The project is being delivered in partnership with Birmingham City Council and Moseley Road Baths Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), with funding from UK Government, the council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Historic England, World Monuments Fund, the National Trust and the Friends of Moseley Road Baths are among the supporting organisations, according to Galliford Try.

The works

Galliford Try announced on 14 November 2025 that it had started the first phase of restoration and improvement works at the Baths and the neighbouring Balsall Heath Library. The charity said Phase 1 began in September 2025 and is focused on restoring the roofs.

The scope includes reconfigured visitor and reception spaces, air source heat pumps, permanent level access to both buildings and restoration of the library, with lift access to a new mezzanine floor, the contractor said.

At Open Doors in April 2026, Galliford Try described the job as combining complex structural repairs, roof replacement, full internal refurbishment and new renewable energy systems while preserving rare historic features. The company said the site served as a makeshift hospital during the Second World War.

The Baths have been closed to swimming and all public access since 2 October 2023, according to the charity's capital works FAQ.

Phase 2 funding

Moseley Road Baths CIO announced on 22 May 2026 that Phase 2 was fully funded after a £9,272,950 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund completed a package of about £16m. The council is putting £5.1m into Phase 2 as part of a £10m total commitment to the project, the charity said.

Phase 2 funder	Contribution
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	£9,272,950
Birmingham City Council	£5.1m
WMCA Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund	£970,455
Garfield Weston Foundation	£350,000
Architectural Heritage Fund	£250,000

Phase 2 covers full restoration of the Gala Pool, conversion of Pool 2 into a flexible event space, a community health and wellbeing hub in the Women's Slipper Baths, a community gym and a studio in the former boiler room, according to the charity. Its FAQ puts the expected cost of both phases combined at £32.7m.

Why the building matters

The Heritage Fund says the Baths were built in 1907 and are the UK's only baths built before 1914 to have hosted swimming continuously since opening. It said the transformation will remove the building from Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register.

Cllr Saima Suleman, cabinet member for digital, culture, heritage and tourism at Birmingham City Council, said when works began: "Swimming, health and wellbeing have always been at the centre of this project." She described Balsall Heath as one of the most deprived wards in the city.

Courtney said the restoration is supporting skills development and employment opportunities for local people. The CIO operates the Baths and the council is the freeholder, according to the Heritage Fund.

The charity said reopening of the Baths is currently anticipated in late 2028.