Delayed library to open no 'later than spring'

COUNCIL LEADER ADMITS THAT PACE OF PROGRESS ‘HAS NOT BEEN GOOD ENOUGH’ AFTER BUILDING PROJECT BESET BY PROBLEMS

- By JOSEPH LOCKER Local Democracy Reporter

THE leader of Nottingham City Council is yet to commit to an opening date for Sherwood Library, admitting there are still “too many moving parts” - but she made a pledge to open the facility by the spring.

The old library in Spondon Street was deemed not fit for purpose in 2017, and the council later sold the site to a local developer, Hockley Developments, to build a new one.

Under the deal, the library building was built at no capital cost to the authority, and a 125-year lease was agreed at nominal rent.

A number of homes have since been built on the site and a Sainsbury’s has also opened.

However, problems with the development of the library first became apparent after a previous contractor, Nottingham-based Dako Construction, collapsed into administration at the beginning of 2023.

Leader of the council Councillor Neghat Khan (Lab) said this led to the council “finding ourselves in this mess’ with the opening of the library being delayed a number of times.

This was despite the building being handed back to the council at the end of 2023 for the final fit-out.