Unanimous approval for Grade II listed Canning Town Old Library 31.10.23

We are delighted to announce that our plans for Canning Town Old Library have received unanimous planning approval and Listed Building Consent from the Newham Local Development Committee. Proposals for the new ‘Newham Heritage Centre’ cover the repair and re-purpose of the Grade II listed library to provide a range of Council-led facilities including an archive, digital media suite, flexible exhibition space, café and learning and outreach spaces. Both the design proposals and associated activities planned within the building are in response to extensive feedback from residents and heritage service users collected over the last 3 years.

Alongside the refurbishment, the unique heritage of the building will be sensitively restored. Extensive work will be undertaken to retrofit the building to make it more climate-efficient, aiming to drastically cut energy use. These will include internal alterations, improved insulation, replacement windows, roof lights and doors, and the installation of solar panels, heat pumps and a new mechanical ventilation system. In addition to this, two extensions are planned; one to include an archival store, built to the highest modern conservation standards, the other to house a new lift and stair which will improve accessibility. With new electrical and mechanical services planned throughout, the building will host a range of digital and audio-visual installations for the first time firmly bringing this Victorian building into the 21st century.

The proposed material palette for the two extensions has been chosen to complement the existing material palette, while offering a counterpoint to the historic fabric and a clear delineation between the existing building and the proposed extensions. As there is no potential for windows openings into the store, a high-quality anodised aluminium cladding is proposed with vertical fins, adding rhythm, depth and interest to the façade. We look forward to progressing this exciting cultural and heritage project and bringing it back in to community use for the residents of Canning Town.

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