Funding has been successfully granted for ‘Celebration Bournville’ project.
An ambitious project looking at how Bournville’s heritage buildings and spaces could be re-imagined is taking a step forward after securing funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Celebration Bournville project is looking at how places, including the former Cadbury Club, Walled Gardens and Claypits Pool, could be better used to benefit local people.
It is being run by charity Bournville Village Trust and Mondelēz International, with support from a stakeholder group of organisations and businesses from the Bournville community.
Now the ambitious project will take a step forward after it was successfully awarded a Heritage Fund grant of nearly £160,000, thanks to National Lottery players.
The money will fund detailed feasibility studies and further community consultation, after initial surveying showed 81% of people on average were in favour of the overall project.
Pete Richmond, Chief Executive at Bournville Village Trust, said: “We are pleased to have secured a Heritage Fund grant in partnership with Mondelez International which will allow us to take the next important step in this ambitious project.
“So far, we have consulted over 2,000 people and we know that there is much enthusiasm and passion for Bournville’s heritage buildings and green spaces. But we also know that some of these buildings and spaces are inaccessible or underused.
“We are now looking forward to carrying out more detailed consultation with the community – hearing from a diverse range of people and groups – and feasibility studies of each of the concepts we have consulted on so far.”
Taryn Tyler, Project Controller at Mondelēz International, said: “Bournville has been our home since 1879, when George and Richard Cadbury built our factory and pioneering community infrastructure for workers. Ever since then, we’ve been committed to supporting the community through investment in our site and local initiatives.
“We’re delighted to be co-leading Celebration Bournville, and look forward to exploring how we can repurpose heritage buildings and spaces for the benefit of the Bournville community.”
Naomi Fisher, a member of the Celebration Bournville stakeholder group, said: “As a local mum and business owner, I’m delighted that this grant will enable the Celebration Bournville plans to take this crucial next step.
“Finding ways to breathe new life into some of our community’s much-loved heritage places is so important- so that we can connect with each other, and for our neighbourhood to thrive.”
The feasibility studies and further consultation will run until March 2027, and the whole project is expected to take place over 10 years.
To read the full consultation report and findings published in 2025, please go to – https://www.bvt.org.uk
Bournville Village Trust is one of the Midlands’ longest-serving independent charitable trusts. It works within more than a dozen diverse communities in south and central Birmingham and Telford and aims to create and sustain communities where people can thrive.
It was founded by social reformer and chocolate maker George Cadbury in 1900 and provides services to 8,000 homes and 25,000 people.
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