Words by Ed King / Pics by Joe Marchant
On Thursday 18 July, Witton Lodge Community Association (WLCA) officially launched ‘phase one’ of their new Enterprise Hub, transforming the old Erdington Baths into a community workspace and entrepreneurial hotspot.
Attending the launch were local partner organisations and stake holders, representatives from local community groups and religious bodies, recently elected West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, and Birmingham City Council Leader John Cotton.
WLCA hope the ambitious development, which will give Erdington entrepreneurs a place to take affordable office space or utilise hot desk facilities, will not only breathe life into Erdington’s High Street but “futureproof” the cherished swimming baths from private sale or development.
Once complete, the creative centre will also house a crèche and onsite play area – giving professionals with young families and a place to work from whilst meeting their childcare responsibilities.
There are further plans for the Enterprise Hub to house a community café, and an outdoor area for street food markets, music, arts, and community events.
The development has been four years in planning, with talks beginning before the Covid pandemic and continuing through the city’s financial crisis.
Despite the global health crisis and Birmingham’s own fiscal meltdown, WLCA have continued to push through with the project – recently securing £2m from the West Midlands Combined Authority and £2m for Birmingham City Council to bankrolling ‘phase one’.
The money now on the table will guarantee the Enterprise Hub will open with the office space, hot desks, community café, and the majority of its planned facilities – with a further £2.5m needed to add the additional resources to complete the overall plan.
And whilst Birmingham City Council is looking at assets it can sell to address its multi-million pound financial crisis, the highest ranking politician in the city has confirmed the £2m coming from the Council coffers for the Witton Lodge Enterprise Hub is guaranteed.
Speaking to Erdington Local at the official launch, Council Leader John Cotton confirmed: “That (£2m) was agreed in July of last year through a Cabinet report and was subsequently signed off through our Section 151 processes that we’ve got in place during the current financial challenges
“So, that money is accounted for and allocated.”
Standing with Cllr John Cotton as they toured the development site, Witton Lodge Chief Officer Afzal Hussan explained that “even with a fair wind” the Enterprise Hub will take a couple of years to fullyopen.
And that they were “always looking” for the further £2.5m investment for the final plans, with the money coming from Birmingham City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority, after over four years of planning the Enterprise Hub in Erdington is now a reality.
He added: “We now know the building will be open, and I think that’s the gamechanger. With the £4m we will be able to preserve the building and restore the roof. We’ll be able to create a café, open it up to the public, and really convert the pool with the co-working spaces and the pods.
“So, that means the project works as it stands.”
For more on the Witton Lodge Enterprise Hub visit www.wittonlodge.org.uk