Library will be moved in Reading in £8.6m investment

Reading Central Library has been located in King’s Road for nearly 40 years since it was opened back in 1985.

Now the library’s collection and its facilities are set to be moved to the council offices in Bridge Street as part of a £8.6 million project.

But before the move can take place, the project required consent from the council’s planning applications committee.

Members of the committee welcomed the project at a recent meeting.

Councillor Jan Gavin (Labour, Caversham) said: “I think it’s a hugely exciting opportunity.

“This is a design which will give our civic offices a greater prominence, it will make them more welcoming, I think the large canopy opening is very modern and inviting.

“The use of space which is largely redundant at the moment to house a library which will bring the library into a more central location, with very good public transport access is a really exciting opportunity which we are lucky to be able to do.”

A CGI of the planned entrance plaza for the proposal to add Reading Central Library to the council offices in Bridge Street. Credit: Hampshire County Council Property Services

However, some concerns were raised with the project.

Cllr Josh Williams (Green, Park) and other members were puzzled by details that the new facility would have less bookshelf space than the current library.

Council planning officer Richard Eatough replied that books in the council’s collection that are not present at the new library could be “taken from one place to another very very quickly.”

READ MORE: New library will have less books, Reading council admits 

The council also clarified that the library will feature more than 1,300 metres of bookshelves, along with a  large children’s library, a teen section with comfy seating areas, desks and quiet study areas.

Cllr Williams also expressed concern that no dedicated disabled parking spaces would be provided for the library, which will be a car-free development.

While the current Central Library is car-free as well, there are four disabled bays outside in King’s Road and an enlarged bay in Abbey Square.

Cllr Williams then explained people in his ward go to the current library and make use of the disabled bays provided.

The existing Reading Central Library in the Abbey Square. Credit: Google Maps

The planning meeting was briefly adjourned while councillors’ concerns about accessibility were addressed.

After the adjournment, Mr Eatough said that disabled parking bays could be provided in Fobney Street or spaces to the rear of Castle Street.

Mr Eatough said: “Officers are fairly happy that there is a solution there, so we would request the submission of a car parking scheme via condition.”

He also said that residents who require access to the council offices can book a space within the office car park.

Members of the committee were satisfied with the development team’s answers and approved plans for the project unanimously at the meeting on Wednesday, January 10.

There are hopes for work to begin in March for an opening in Spring 2025.

You can view the approved application by typing reference 231495 into the council’s planning portal.

The library project has been enabled by £8.6 million in government levelling up funding which the council received last year.

The existing Central Library has been identified for potential conversion into a residential development or for office and retail use as part of the council’s ‘partial update’ to its local plan.