Former Birmingham day centre could become new store as cash-strapped council approves more property sales

A vast array of properties and land have been sold since the start of last year after Labour-run Birmingham Council declared itself effectively bankrupt in September 2023.

More property sales were given the green light at a recent meeting, including one that involves the former Harborne Day Centre in West Boulevard.

It was one of four centres which controversially closed earlier this year as part of city council budget cuts.

“Highly-vulnerable people and their carers’ are going to suffer immensely,” resident Jean Cross previously wrote in an open letter as the row rumbled on.

“This closure will have a detrimental impact for my brother, causing distress and unnecessary change to his daily routine as he would find new surroundings very hard to cope with.”

Services and residents were ultimately moved to the five remaining day centres in Birmingham under the plans however, which sparked furious outbursts during a meeting last year.

The centres provide support and opportunities to make friends and gain new skills for those with learning and physical disabilities, autism and dementia.

The council has now approved the sale of the former day centre, with a report saying it would support the local authority’s financial recovery plan.

Another council document went on to provide some insight on what the future of the site could hold.

“The property is a former adult day centre which was closed following a review of the use of the facility, operational costs and capacity availability in other locations,” it read.

“The previous users of the centre now use alternative council-owned facilities.

“The building is now vacant. The proposal is to sell the property to a national company who will redevelop the site for a new foodstore.”

Local ward councillor Jayne Francis said she would welcome the creation of jobs and wanted the proposed retail development to commit to ensuring the store is “fully accessible” by public transport.

On the option of doing nothing, the council said it is “under no obligation to proceed with this proposal and would suffer no reputational consequences if it did not proceed”.

“The negotiated capital premium would, however, not be realised at this time,” it said.

Several issues contributed to the recent financial woes at the council, including the equal pay debacle, inadequate budget setting, poor service management, demand led pressures and the disastrous implementation of a new IT system.

Labour councillors have also pointed the finger at funding cuts during the previous Conservative government.

On the closure of the adult day centres, Coun Rob Pocock, who is overseeing the council’s transformation, said last year: “We need to save on costs and the remaining centres need to be fully utilised.

“Citizens using our centres have said they want to have a wider variety of activities outside the day centres and this is what we are also developing, as part of a more modern 21st century service”.

He said the package as a whole meant anyone wanting to use a council day centre would still be able to and that no staff were being made redundant.