APPENDIX TO AGENDA ITEM 8
Hertfordshire Libraries - property update
Property projects, both active and planned, and including those funded through S106.
Library / Property project / Project status as at April 2010Borehamwood / Reprovision in the town centre as part of the All Saints joint project with Youth Connections, Hertsmere Borough Council and Borehamwood Community Partnership / In design. To be completed in 2011. Existing capital funding.
Bushey / Internal refurbishment to increase the public area / Service Property Priority = joint third
Funding will be sought through 11/12 capital bid.
Central Resources Library / To be relocated from the New Barnfield site to Broadwater Road, Welwyn Garden City / Relocation by November 2011. Included in the 2010/11 capital programme. Exchange of contracts to secure the Broadwater Road sitecompleted in March 2010.
Cheshunt / Listed building unsuitable for modern service delivery / A suitable alternative location has yet to be identified
Chorleywood / Partial internal refurbishment to provide a Children’s Centre within the Library building / Construction commenced March 2010. Central government funding through the Sure Start grant. To be completed in July 2010.
Harpenden / Initial feasibility work has been undertaken to demonstrate that the original Victorian school building can be satisfactorily converted into a much-improved public library for the town together with space for community uses. Further feasibility work is being taken forward in respect of the remainder of the site on the basis that HCC must endeavour to recoup significant monies from the sale of surplus lands at the rear in order to mitigate the call upon future capital programme resources for the library project. / Service Property Priority = joint third
Funding will be sought through 11/12 capital bid.
Hemel Hempstead / The town centre redevelopment (Waterhouse Square) can no longer go ahead as the developer has recently gone into receivership. / It may be possible to undertake a scheme together with Dacorum Borough Council in the future, although given current market conditions this will probably not be possible for at least 5 years. In the meantime we will seek to improve the service in the existing building using Section 106 monies (£106,577).
Hertford / Reprovision in the town centre as part of the Dolphin Yard development / In construction. Fit-out design underway. To be completed in 2010/11. Existing capital funding.
North Watford / Plans to re-provide the Library with a new family centre and residential development in conjunction with the PCT, close to the current site / Early development unlikely given current market conditions. Strategy for HCC and PCT will need to be reviewed in 2010.
Potters Bar (Oakmere) / The most undersized and poorly located Band 2 (large library, population catchment 20,000+) library in the county. It is also identified within the SPPs as a property that requires us to ‘relocate within seven years’. Discussions with Hertsmere Borough Council on reprovision within the town centre are ongoing. / Service Property Priority = first
Funding will be sought through 11/12 capital bid.
Sawbridgeworth / The previously–proposed reprovision on the existing site as part of a partnership project with Sawbridgeworth Town Council (STC)is no longer proceeding. / Capital funding for fit-out funding (£204,000) secured in 2006, but negotiations for build funding with STC now no longer proceeding.
Stevenage /
- Major refurbishment of the ground floor, including installation of Herts Local and RFID
- No longer part of the town centre redevelopment, so feasibility on reprovision on the existing site is to be considered, using S106 monies.
Ware / Listed building unsuitable for modern service delivery and has a major maintenance liability. This project (to extend to the rear into the Old Fire Station and to sell the original Georgian townhouse) will allow us to re-provide in the same excellent location. It is also identified within the SPPs as a property that requires us to ‘relocate within seven years’. / Service Property Priority = second
Funding will be sought through 11/12 capital bid.
Meanwhile, representations seeking to remove the retail frontage designation from the Library, which currently applies from the adopted East Herts District Council Plan, will be made by officers in Hertfordshire Property at the appropriate stage of Local Development Framework consultation.
Watford / Plans to refurbish the existing Library, possibly in partnership with Watford Borough Council as part of the ‘Watford Town Centre Cultural Study’ / Timing dictated by Watford Borough Council’s action plan arising from the ‘Watford Town Centre Cultural Study’
Wheathampstead / Internal refurbishment, to improve access to stock and introduce RFID / Implementation April 2010. To be funded through S106 (£8,847).
Recently completed property projects
Goffs Oak / Children’s Library refurbishment and new IT Suite installed / 2006
Hoddesdon / Major internal refurbishment / 2006
London Colney / Major internal and external refurbishment / 2006
Tring / Major internal refurbishment / 2006
Hatfield / Complete internal and external refurbishment, increasing public space by 20% / 2007
St Albans / Refurbishment of study area, reference area, Children’s Library and IT Suite / 2007
Watford / Refurbishment of Reference Library and Gallery, creation of Local Studies area, and periodicals area, and new IT Suite (additional 28 PCs) / 2007
Welwyn / Internal refurbishment / 2007
WelwynGarden City / Refurbishment to create a new IT Suite and study area / 2007
Croxley Green / Installation of an IT Learning Suite / 2008
Oxhey / Reprovision on the existing site, funded by £1.4 million Big Lottery Fund / Reopened September 2009
Letchworth / S106 funded (£83,665) internal refurbishment to increase provision of IT facilities, improve access and layout, create Local/Family History area / Reopened November 2009
100429 09 Appendix to Libraries Property Update