Works are set to commence on refurbishing the West Wickham library and the connected Bromley homes for Bromley people housing development, as protective hoarding is raised around the site, with street benches and nearby signs also being temporarily removed.
In anticipation of the works, the West Wickham town sign, the Bromley Millennium Rock, a number of memorial benches, and the Stock’s Tree sign that sits in front of the library are all being moved temporarily. They will start to be moved and placed into storage this week, to be returned to the site following the works to help accentuate the improved library surroundings.
The refurbished and extended library will provide an improved library space with additional children's learning and reading areas, new community hire spaces, Changing Places toilets and a modern café with sheltered outdoor seating. The library has now been successfully temporarily relocated to 77 Addington Road, a Grade II listed Art Deco building near Coney Hall.
The new housing development at the adjacent car park site will be a mix of mews housing and apartments with bike and car parking, providing 26 new homes in total for Bromley residents. There will be a mix of affordable and private housing on the site, with this arrangement being brought forward to support the investment of refurbishing the library.
Councillor Yvonne Bear, Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing said: “We are now very close to works commencing on this site that will bring forward not only a wonderfully improved library, but also much needed Bromley homes for Bromley people. This refurbishment represents a significant investment in the borough’s library service, that we are making due to the vital role that our libraries play in local communities across the borough. I thank GLL for their support with smoothly relocating the library during the works.”
Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), the charitable social enterprise who operate Bromley’s libraries, worked in partnership with the council to temporarily relocate the library with minimum disruption to customers. The temporary library on Addington Road is served by the 119 bus route from West Wickham, which stops right by the temporary site after just five minutes. This site will be used until the West Wickham refurbishment is completed, which is expected in 2024.
The underused car park has now closed so that new housing can be built, with three alternative council car parks within a ten minute walk of the library.
There are 13 other libraries in the borough that customers can also use during the refurbishment. Additionally, the home library service is available for customers who would prefer items to be delivered to them at home. Find out more about the home library service.
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For media enquiries, please contact James George, public affairs, on 020 8313 4565 or email james.george@bromley.gov.uk