Council urged to 'reconsider' auctioning 'historic' Moseley site - for very important reason

A Moseley councillor is urging Birmingham City Council to reconsider plans to sell a derelict building that once formed part of the historic Cadbury estate. Councillor Izzy Knowles has highlighted strong interest from local community groups keen to repurpose the site, known locally as Queensbridge Depot.

Located on Queensbridge Road, adjacent to Queensbridge School, the depot has been derelict since 2009. The council, which inherited the land in the 1970s, has now listed the site for auction with a guide price of £450,000.

birmingham -city-council>Birmingham City Council, facing severe financial challenges, has sold over £50 million worth of land and property this year alone as it struggles to manage its financial woes. However, Cllr Knowles is urging the council to explore community-focused uses for the depot before finalising its sale.

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Built between 1890 and 1904 as part of the Uffculme Hall estate, the depot was originally known as ‘The Tea Sheds’. It was intended as a free community space, reflecting the Cadbury family’s philanthropic ideals.

After coming under council ownership in 1970, the site was used for parks maintenance storage but has remained unused for over a decade. Cllr Knowles is campaigning for the site to be removed from auction to allow for its restoration and reuse as a community asset.

“We’re hoping to persuade the council to take it off the auction site,” she said. “There’s a lot of community interest in the building, so we hope it can be restored and re-used.

“It’s a building with a lot of history and a lot of potential. However, it’s sandwiched between two schools, so it’s not the most suitable location for housing or flats. There is, however, a real opportunity to restore it for community benefit.”

Cllr Knowles noted that local groups, including Highbury Orchard and Moseley and Kings Heath Shed, had expressed interest in taking over the site, but their proposals have not been ‘formally considered’. During a recent meeting with council representatives this week, she called on decision-makers to better recognise the historical and community value of the sites they are putting up for sale.

“I’d call on the council, when making decisions about land and buildings which belong to them, to fully understand the history behind the site and explore all the possible options before they decide to sell,” she said.

“I accept the council needs to cash in on its assets, but the land was bequeathed to the council for the benefit of the community. If they don’t consider what the community would like to see done to the building, then they’re not really satisfying the reason they received the land in the first place.”