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The Selly Oak Five
The Selly Oak Five
At the centre of Selly Oak in Bristol Road is a cluster of five Grade 2 listed Victorian buildings. They are badly neglected but with our partner organisation CP4SO we believe that they could be restored to become the civic quarter of Selly Oak. Surrounding them are major new developments of student housing, the Selly Oak Shopping Park, and the University of Birmingham’s planned Life Sciences Park. CP4SO is campaigning for some of that energy and investment to be harnessed to upgrade and, where possible, find new public uses for the listed buildings.
Developers, retailers, the university, city council, residents and the student population should all benefit from sensitive restoration of the buildings and the areas between them. Proximity to the canal running from Birmingham to Worcester offers additional opportunities to make this an attractive recreational area. This could become the heart of a renewed Selly Oak.
In a full page article on 11 July 2019, the Birmingham Post nicknamed our campaign ‘Save the Selly Oak Five’. The article is expanded on in the Birmingham Live article below.
Selly Oak Library
Selly Oak Library
Opened in 1905 and described as a Carnegie Library this Grade II listed building is still owned by the City Council. As such it is the building that we are most likely to be able to return to public use. Working with our partners CP4SO and the Friends of Selly Oak Library we plan to buy or lease the building and turn it into a community cafe and hub with possible uses including a co-working space, children's theatre workshops and an education / information hub.
Pumping Station
Pumping Station
Originally designed to pump water from an aquifer bellow Selly Oak and located just behind the library, the Pumping Station is now used by Western Power Distribution as part of the electricity network. Still in good repair its Gothic style makes it stand out among the Victorian terraces of Selly Oak. Persuaded by our partner CP4SO and the Selly Oak Five campaign Western Power have agreed to enhance and emphasize the importance of the building with flood lights, landscaping and a new gateway. The first phase of these works is already well under way. Its great to see this iconic building in the hands of a responsible owner.
Selly Oak Institute
Selly Oak Institute
Opened by George Cadbury in 1894 Selly Oak Centre (originally The Selly Oak Institute) was used as an adult education centre until it was sold in 2012. Shrouded in scaffolding and under threat of becoming a student hall of residence, it is currently in private ownership. The building contains a fully functional auditorium which is currently lost to the community. It would be great to bring it back into public use.
659 & 641 Bristol Rd
659 & 641 Bristol Rd
659 and 641 Bristol Rd flank the entrance to Bournbrook Recreation Ground. 659 is identified as the former house for the manager of the Pumping Station.
Its twin, 641, was originally built to house staff at the Pumping Station but later became the lodge for the park keeper at Bournbrook Rec.
Currently in private hands and rented as a Houses in Multiple Occupancy we would like to integrate these houses into our affordable housing project perhaps as larger family homes.
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