Library to be demolished as new plans get approval

News Reporter NUNEATON’S library will be bulldozed as huge town centre plans have been approved.

Justice Walk, which will boast a £20m learning and living zone and will have a new library, offices and up to 65 homes in the Vicarage Street area, has been given the green light.

But in doing so, it means that the town’s loved main library will be demolished to make way for the new library. It is the final chapter for the facility which has served generations since it opened in 1962.

It was designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd, best known for designing the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. It is for this reason that attempts were made to save the building.

The Twentieth Century Society, known as C20, made two attempts to stop the building from being demolished and fought to get it listed status. But these attempts failed.

Now the building’s fate has been sealed as members of Nuneaoton and Bedworth Borough Council’s planning committee approved Warwickshire County Council’s huge plans. It has yet to be revealed when work will start.

But as well as demolishing the library, the old Powell House building as well as the former home of Wilko and the current Royal Mail sorting office will also have to go. Royal Mail is set to move to a new depot being built in Bermuda. Mark Ryder, executive director for communities at the Shire Hall said: “This is positive news and will create some real momentum as work gets underway to bring an outstanding new library for residents and a prime facility and location in which businesses can prosper.

“The residential development will benefit the town by providing much needed, high-quality homes, increasing town centre footfall, creating opportunities for businesses and employment with the subsequent boost to the town centre economy.”

Stuart Buckley, managing director of Warwickshire Property and Development Group, which will be behind the development, added: “This mixed-use scheme will bring widespread benefits to the community, the local economy and attract new residents and businesses to Nuneaton town centre.

“This will deliver much needed new homes for the town centre, space for innovative businesses to grow and a high-quality facility for all of the community. We look forward to progressing this to the next stage.”