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In common with many inner city churches, Emmanuel was under-used and its dwindling congregation were unable to support the continued use of the building. The Diocese of Birmingham, sought and obtained a Redundancy Order, and the buildings and site were purchased by the Moseley and District Churches Housing Association. The adjacent vicarage was sold separately as a private dwelling house.
The Housing Corporation were keen to see a scheme in Birmingham that would be dedicated to Asian elderly, and the brief was developed along these lines. Ashram Housing Association became involved to give their specific experience in this field.
The existing church was listed grade II, and could not be easily demolished. It was decided, therefore to examine the idea of conversion with new build extensions, and the scheme that evolved is more or less what now exists.
There are twenty-four, self contained flats on two storeys, and these are supported by common rooms and a central dining facility. The new build element comprises two wings, designed to provide south facing living rooms to all flats. The new buildings needed to address the problem of marrying with the large scale of a Victorian church, and the domestic scale of Victorian artisan terraced houses.
