UPDATE 4th December 2024 – I’ve had confirmation today that the site has been withdrawn from auction. The council have sent expressions of interest forms to two organisations who have already expressed an interest. They will also contact Save Birmingham and BVSC to ensure other community organisations are given the opportunity to register an interest to purchase or a long lease for the site.
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I have been made aware that the site and building known locally as the Queensbridge Depot has been listed by the council for auction in December 2024.
The site is located on Queensbridge Road next to Queensbridge School and is between the two playing fields.
Research undertaken in 2018 by former Councillor Martin Mullaney revealed the site is of significant local interest. It may have been built as the engineering workshop and coach house for Uffculme Hall and is part of the Cadbury family history. It was used for community meetings and believed it may have been the base for the Pocket Testament League
In 1970 the land and buildings were bequeathed to Birmingham City Council and used as a base for the Parks department. It has been empty and the buildings semi derelict since 2009.
You can read Martins document here:
In June 2018 the site was included on a list of sites for sale by Birmingham City Council. Representations were made by various organisations, including Moseley Forum, Highbury Orchard, and Kings Heath & Moseley Shed as well as both Moor Green Lane and Russell Road Residents Associations. There was also a petition. The site was withdrawn from sale following the concerns raised and a presentation at a Moseley Forum meeting. The important local interest, as well as the difficulties with traffic flows were the reasons given for ‘disposal for residential’ being rejected and withdrawal of the property for sale.
The same happened in 2020 when again it was put on a disposal list by BCC. Councillor Lisa Trickett gave assurances at that time that ‘no development would occur on this site and no future decision would be made on its use until ‘we are clear on how it might fit to securing a wider community asset and viable future for Highbury Hall‘.
In the past few years local organisations including Highbury Orchard and Moseley and Kings Heath shed have expressed interest to explore the possibility of taking it over, restoring it and opening it for community use working with the local schools and trusts, such as the Uffculme Centre in the nearby locality. Their requests have never been formally considered. There has also been interest from two nearby schools to enable them to extend provision, however this has never got off the ground either.
I have now written to the director of Place Prosperity & Sustainability at Birmingham City Council to make my objections to the site being auctioned without prior consultation with local councillors (we were not informed of the latest auction listing) and the local community.
I have received a reply and hope to progress a dialogue and remove the site from sale.
Councillors Izzy Knowles, Philip Mills & Moseley Liberal Democrats 