Reading's Southcote Library set to be completely demolished

The Southcote Library building has been empty since 2018 when books and other services were moved into the nearby Southcote Community Hub.

Pictures from inside show blue tables being left there since the library was sealed off, and wooden cabinets that were previously used for storage left open.

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While there is a mess on the floor, there were indications that the library was once a valued facility, with artwork of a lion and other animals on the walls.

The inside of the closed Southcote Library in Reading, with animal artwork on the wall. (Image: Reading Borough Council)

However, rooms have been left in a dilapidated state, with chairs seen turned upside down.

The photos were taken during a site visit on Wednesday, September 18.

However, the old library is set to be demolished to make way for new council housing. 

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The building owned by Reading Borough Council was disposed of in August 2020.

Initially, Sovereign Housing was set to redevelop the site, but the affordable housing provider pulled out of the project in January 2023.

The inside of the closed Southcote Library in Reading, showing a room being left in a messy state. (Image: Reading Borough Council)

The council repossessed the building at a policy committee meeting in April last year, transferring it to the council's housing team.

At that meeting, Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley), lead councillor for planning and assets said: "The people of Southcote and the local community, I'm certain, will be pleased to see this vacant building put to good use in the form of creating desperately needed affordable homes for the people of Reading including Southcote."

The site has been earmarked for a development of 15-23 dwellings, worth approximately £3.8 million.

The closed Southcote Library in Reading. (Image: Reading Borough Council)

The council aims to build 15 two-bedroom flats on the site.

The latest update is that plans for the demolition of the building have been given the go-ahead.

A demolition method statement from the Conway Consultancy reveals that the building will be demolished by excavator vehicles.

An excerpt of the statement says: "The masonry walls will be carefully demolished from the top down using a push/pull action, with the grabbing / breaking sections of masonry inwards."

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The demolition project was approved on October 16.

You can view the approved demolition project by typing reference PL/24/1059 into the council's planning portal. 

The former library has been included as a site for development in the Local Plan partial update, with the draft of the plan being approved for consultation at a full council meeting on October 15.

The Southcote Community Hub became a flashpoint in 2022 when drag queen Aida H Dee held a story time event at the centre, the second of a country-wide tour.

A large number of police officers attended to maintain order after a protester threatened to conduct a 'citizen's arrest' of Aida H Dee.