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Thread: £50m rebuild for Liverpool's Central Library

  1. #1
    Creator & Administrator Kev's Avatar
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    Exclamation £50m rebuild for Liverpool's Central Library

    £50m rebuild for Liverpool's Central Library

    MAY 16 2008 BY NICK COLIGAN, LIVERPOOL ECHO

    A MULTI-MILLION pound plan to transform Liverpool’s historic Central Library was unveiled today.

    The £50m scheme replaces a stalled proposal to extensively refurbish the 158-year-old building.

    Council officials struggled to find builders prepared to undertake the complicated task of remodelling the grade II*-listed library leaving the scheme in limbo.

    Now they have gone back to the drawing board and come up with a project which will mean much of the city centre premises being demolished and rebuilt, instead of just being renovated.

    Extensions at the back of the library, built in the 1950s and 1970s, will be bulldozed and replaced with modern reading, lending, computing and audio areas.

    The city’s priceless archives will be moved into a purpose-built genealogy centre, called Liverpool Memories, making it more accessible than ever.

    The picturesque Picton reading room and mothballed international library will be refurbished to make them fit for the 21st century.

    Some £8m will now be spent on that part of the project, twice as much as the original scheme.

    Liverpool council will now start searching for a developer to do the work this summer.

    If everything goes to plan the project will start in 2010 and finish two years later.

    The council’s head of libraries Joyce Little said: “Many improvements were made over the years.

    “But they were piecemeal and the time is right for a major redevelopment.

    “The library developed in a series of interlinked buildings and different floors which make life difficult for staff and visitors.

    “We do what we can to ensure the best public access and presentation possible.

    “But the building itself is not conducive to a 21st century library.”

    The council revealed its original plan for Central Library almost three years ago after the government agreed £50m funding via a private finance initiative (PFI).

    That means a developer will fund the scheme and the council will pay back the money over several years, using government funds.

    The new project will be paid for in the same way.

    Councillors are expected to meet within the next few weeks to agree to launch the Europe-wide search for a construction company.

    Ms Little was confident the simplified plans would prove more attractive to private firms.

    She said: “We have not changed the type of services at Central Library.

    “It is just the type of building which has changed.”

    Why bidders were put off

    IF the council’s original plan had worked Central Library would have closed for refurbishment during Capital of Culture year.

    But problems quickly surfaced when officials starting searching for a developer to carry out the renovation work.

    PFI rules mean at least two firms must compete for the contract. Although two companies put in bids, one dropped out and a replacement could not be found.



    Library officials believe the project’s complexity deterred firms from coming forward.

    The council held long discussions with the government about whether the plan could proceed with the remaining bidder but was turned down.

    But the money is still on the table.
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  2. #2
    Local Historian Cadfael's Avatar
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    I would be gutted if this happens. No one wants a Library that smells 'new' and is very bright, central Library is the one place where it has escaped time, you can browse books at your own leisure in the darkest corner of the building and no one will disturb you.

    Why not put double glazing in Liverpool Cathedral while they are at it?

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    Re-member Ged's Avatar
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    I just knew it!!!

    I always thought it was draughty in there.
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  4. #4
    PhilipG
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    Those of us who have been in the library know that most of it was built after the war.
    The 4th floor has buckets permanently installed to catch leaking rain, and the public (and staff) regularly receive electric shocks.
    Not before time, I say.
    Obviously the few remaining original parts like the Picton shouldn't be altered.

  5. #5
    Re-member Ged's Avatar
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    I watched some of the early 70s extensions going onto the rear at Clayton St from our tenny landing.
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    Senior Member gregs dad's Avatar
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    The Picton "gasometer" and William Brown St looking well in the winter sunhine
    last week
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    Why can't they just leave it alone no one want's a "21st century" library were happy with the one we've got why waste money when theres nothing wrong with it, I'ts not going to get more people going just because it's new and if anything less people would probably go.

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    Senior Member Samp's Avatar
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    What are they going to do with the library buildings like Everton Library and Lister drive, these buildings should not be sold off! they should be used for other puposes if they are not viable as libraries anymore.

    They could have moved the Registary office to the Everton library site instead of Old Hall St. A wedding there would have been much better than the corn exchange building.

    The library in Lister Drive would have made a nice self contained records office, gardens all around too!

  9. #9
    Senior Member gregs dad's Avatar
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    old liverpool building by exacta2a, on Flickr


    old liverpool building by exacta2a, on Flickr


    old liverpool building by exacta2a, on Flickr


    old liverpool building by exacta2a, on Flickr

    Work is proceeding on the rebuild of the library
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