Restoration project for historic Birmingham mansion exploring 'plan B' after 'disheartening news'

Birmingham's Highbury Hall was previously the home of former mayor Joseph Chamberlain

A ‘plan B’ is being explored following “disheartening news” for those hoping to restore Joseph Chamberlain’s former mansion in Moseley. The impressive Highbury Hall was once the home of the former Mayor of Birmingham, who is credited with making Birmingham ‘the best governed city in the world’.

As well as overseeing huge changes in the city, the reforming leader was also the father of former Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and Austen Chamberlain, who became chancellor of the exchequer. Earlier this year, dozens of Joseph Chamberlain’s descendants and family members met for a historical gathering amid hopes to transform his former mansion into a multi-purpose visitor attraction.

Although parts of the building continue to be used for private functions, there is generally no public access to the house which was commissioned by Chamberlain in the 1870s. The Chamberlain Highbury Trust announced just a few months ago in May that it had secured £5 million in funds for the project from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

READ MORE: I visited 'forgotten' Birmingham estate and I now understand why it is being saved

However, the trust later said in August it would have to put its larger-scale plans for the mansion and grounds “on pause”, saying at the time that Birmingham City Council (BCC) was unable to match fund Highbury’s “much-needed” restoration due to financial restrictions.

“We know this news will be disheartening to many of our supporters," it said. "We are determined to stay positive and continue with the hard work and momentum to meet the objectives of the trust to restore the building and establish a sustainable business model."

During a Trusts and Charities Committee meeting this week, councillor Phil Davis said he had been trying to work out a “plan B" with council officers. David Kidney, chair of the trust board at Chamberlain Highbury Trust, went on to explain the current situation, saying: “We trustees have studied all the options for us - one of which is to give up, take our bat and go home.

“But another one was, could we talk to the lottery about doing something without the council’s contribution to keep the momentum going forward and keep the improvements rolling? We’ve had a meeting with them.”

He continued: “We’ve had a full meeting of our trust board and we’re agreed that we’re willing to try to pivot the full restoration project to a second garden restoration project. Basically we take most of the elements from the full restoration that relate to the gardens and do them while we wait, hopefully, for the council to get control of its finances, stick with the plan for the full restoration of the mansion and come back to that later on.”

“That’s our new plan,” he added. “For that one, we don’t need money from the council except for a token payment.”

A council report, published prior to the meeting, included a recommendation for the committee to support efforts by the trust to restore the estate grounds/gardens. Another recommendation was to support efforts to maintain “continued occupation and use” of Highbury Hall and gardens for public and other events.

The report continued: “Continued occupation of Highbury Hall, with a catering service for weddings/events, would continue to generate income to maintain the property, protect it from vandalism and avoid heavy security costs.”

The committee agreed to approve the recommendations. Earlier this year, a council spokesperson said: "BCC is currently not in a position to provide the match funding sought to secure the wider funding package and deliver the scheme of works as originally proposed."

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