Ward End Park
Regeneration Project

Ward End Park Lakeside Renewal Project

The project in Ward End Park comprises the extension and retrofitting of the Dolphin Centre with green energy and carbon reducing technologies alongside improvements to the lake, the Wash Brook, the woodland area, increased and enhanced public access and the creation of a lowland heath to encourage a greater diversity of plants and pollinator insects for people to see and enjoy as they walk around the park.

It is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund

In 2012 Norton Hall charity took on responsibility of the Dolphin Women’s Centre, an un- used, unsightly, community building based at the edge of the lake within Ward End Park. The surrounding area was once a beautiful green space in this inner-city area of Birmingham that was used and enjoyed by the local community.  We plan to restore it to its former glory.

Our vision was to establish a community hub for local women to access health, education and employment support and to also work with local partners and local people to improve the biodiversity of Ward End Park to attract more visitors and create a thriving wildlife habitat.

Working with our key partners, The Friends of Ward End Park and users and volunteers at the Dolphin Women’s Centre we developed plans to renovate the centre and focus on improving the wider park environment.

In 2014, we received funding from Social Invest Business (SIB) to undertake feasibility work and community consultation to develop plans for the redesign and redevelopment of the Dolphin Women’s Centre. 

Our vision includes modernising the centre to ensure it connects to the wider park, expanding and relocating the current café to access the lake frontage and provide much needed facilities for local families visiting the park; creating additional training spaces to accommodate the growing demand for services for local women; improving access to the building for people with disabilities; improving the overall aesthetics of the building to uplift and revive the area and generate a sense of pride in our local community.   

Having shared our vision with Birmingham City Council Landscape Practice group in 2017 we produced a master plan for the regeneration of Ward End Park and the Dolphin Women’s Centre refurbishment.  We continued to work in collaboration with Friends of Ward End Park, and Birmingham City Council Landscape Practice group over the next four years to secure funding to make our vision a reality.

In March 2021 we finally received the good news that we had successfully secured 1.4 million pounds in Funding from European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for Ward End Park Lakeside Renewal Project. Match funding of 50% is coming from the Birmingham City Council, the National Lottery and HS2 Ltd, through complementary works on the site of the adjacent HS2 Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot and their Community and Environment Fund.

The funding will see the retrofitting and extension to the Dolphin Centre with renewable energy and efficiency interventions, such as solar panels, a new condensing boiler and triple glazing to a ground floor café space overlooking the lake in the park. Phase 2 will see Improved access and the fitting out of the café.

Within the park itself there will be a suite of environmental and biodiversity improvements with works to the Wash Brook, desilting of the lake and marginal planting, the enhancement and management of the various woodland habitats and the creation of a new area of lowland heath on the grass slopes to the east of the lake. Part of the scheme will allow for improved access around the park, with interpretation of the various habitats and waymarked and improved cycle access linking  the neighbouring communities to the new industrial area on the opposite side of Washwood Heath Road.

Works should begin on site from September 2021 and the funding programme ends in May 2023.