The Glenart Castle Mess, an accommodation site used by armed forces medics based in Birmingham, will remain closed for an additional six months following the discovery of significant fire safety defects.
Located on the former MG Rover site in Longbridge, the facility was initially closed in July 2025 for planned plumbing upgrades expected to last ten weeks. However, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) recently revealed that unrelated fire safety issues were identified during ongoing works, revealing a substantial number of urgent defects that must be rectified before reopening.
In correspondence with Laurence Turner, MP for Birmingham Northfield, the MoD explained: “Glenart Castle Mess closed in July 2025 to allow for an upgrade to the water system infrastructure in the building. Initial work addressed some anticipated fire safety concerns, but further unrelated fire issues were uncovered during an urgent survey, revealing numerous defects requiring immediate attention.”
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A building inspection confirmed that the accommodation should not be reoccupied until these fire safety issues are fully resolved. The Ministry of Defence estimates the necessary remedial work will require approximately six more months to complete.
Mr. Turner shared the update on social media, stating: “The Ministry of Defence has informed me the site will not reopen next week as planned. While the water system upgrade is complete, significant fire safety defects have delayed reopening. I intend to raise serious questions about these issues in Parliament, especially considering the building was completed as recently as late 2017.”
The MoD has assured that the extended closure will not affect its contract with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Nevertheless, Mr. Turner expressed sympathy for the service personnel who normally reside at Glenart Castle Mess, acknowledging the disruption caused by the prolonged closure.
The medics housed at Glenart Castle Mess support the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) at the nearby Queen Elizabeth Hospital, providing critical care to both public patients and armed forces personnel returning from deployments worldwide. The six-storey building, containing 180 en-suite bedrooms along with amenities such as a dining room, gym, and secure parking, has served military medical staff in Longbridge for nearly eight years.