Birmingham City Council has sold an array of properties and land after becoming engulfed by a financial crisis
Lloyd House in Birmingham, headquarters of the West Midlands Police.(Image: Jacob King/PA Wire)
Birmingham City Council is planning more property sales as it attempts to find a way forward after becoming engulfed by a financial crisis.
An array of properties and land have been sold since the start of last year amid the recent turmoil, which saw the Labour -run authority effectively declaring itself bankrupt in September 2023.
They include the Bordesley Green ‘Wheels’ site, where a new stadium for Birmingham City FC has been proposed as part of the massive Sports Quarter regeneration project.
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But a huge range of other assets have also been sold through negotiations or auctions, raising millions and millions of pounds for the cash-strapped council.
Plans for more property sales are set to be considered at a council meeting next week – they involve assets such as a Victorian cottage in Sutton Park, the site of former swimming baths in Stechford, a ‘core retail asset’ in the city centre and Lloyd House, the headquarters of West Midlands Police.
The list of proposed property sales is as follows:
Lloyd House, Colmore Circus, Birmingham, B4 6AT
Sale of freehold interest comprising land and building
The council says: “Both leasehold interests are currently producing a fixed income and due to expire in June 2060.
“Following a sale of the freehold interest, the council will forfeit receipt of rents in exchange for an agreed capital sum.”
Former Cascades Swimming Baths, Stechford B33 8QN
Sale and selection of bid
According to a report, the former Cascades Swimming Baths closed in 2018 and the building was subsequently demolished.
A new leisure centre was developed on the adjoining site and opened to the public in tandem.
The site occupies a prominent position with good transport links and is accessed directly from Station Road.
Open marketing for the property commenced in February 2025, with the site being marketed for a wide range of uses including residential development for affordable housing.
Former Coleshill Road Garden Nursery, Coleshill Road, Sutton Coldfield B75 7BA
Sale and selection of bid
The council says: “The property comprises a former garden nursery that was operated until recently by the council.
“The site extends to approximately 2.75 acres and consists of land, outbuildings and a three-bedroom detached bungalow.”
Midland Lodge, Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield B74 2YP
Sale and selection of bid
Midland Lodge in Sutton Park
According to the council, Midland Lodge was historically occupied by former park keepers of Sutton Park and is described as a two-storey Victorian cottage.
The property was built in the late 1800s and is adjacent to the Midland Gate entrance to the park.
“With the reduced need for onsite park rangers and the ongoing maintenance costs / requirement for significant investment to upgrade the property to current standards, the property became vacant several years ago,” a report said.
1459 Pershore Road, Stirchley, Birmingham
Disposal
A council report said: “The property is vacant and was previously used for office/administrative uses by the council.”
It went on to describe it as an early 1990s single storey office/administration building, with eight car spaces.
67 Sutton New Road, Erdington, Birmingham
Disposal
The property is a vacant, four-storey office building which was previously used by the council.
“The purchaser is an established organisation in the city and the proposal could bring substantial employment to the local area, as well as providing services that could assist in addressing health inequalities and socioeconomic issues,” a council report said.
Approval for disposal of JQ assets (cafe block)
The ‘Café’ Block, 36-41 Vyse St & 2,4 & 6 Hylton St, Birmingham B18 6JY
According to a council report, the property comprises a “relatively small multi-let commercial mixed-use asset” on Vyse Street in the Jewellery Quarter,
“The property has the potential for longer term refurbishment and may have the possibility of partial redevelopment in accordance with the recently approved JQ Neighbourhood Plan,” a report said.
It continued the plans increasingly provide for a balance of uses between preserving the traditional jewellery-related occupiers and an introduction of culture and tourism needs as well as “emerging residential conversion uses”.
Gazette Building and Court Chambers
Approval for disposal of core retail asset in the city centre
Birmingham Gazette Building in the city centre(Image: Google Maps)
The council says: “The property was the original conceived and built to house the ‘Birmingham Gazette Newspaper’, originated by Thomas Aris in 1741.
“The adjacent Court Chambers was built on the site of the old George and Crown Inn and was used as an informal dining club, named ‘Lincolns Inn Restaurant’ for members of the legal profession practicing in the area.”
It continued: “Significant investment is now required to bring this period asset, some of which is likely to be Listed, into better repair and a more lettable condition.
“The potential in longer term redevelopment may lie in providing additional student housing in the area.”