Major Refurbishment Planned for Brentford Library

Adult classrooms to be created and upstairs brought into use

Plans have been drawn up to refurbish Brentford Library and install two adult education classrooms.

A planning application P/2019/1075 has been submitted for phase one of enabling works which will refurbish the first floor toilets and hall, and the ground floor stafff room and store. This will then enable the side entrance to be used as public entrance once the second phase begins.

The second phase will have a separate planning application expected to be submitted in a few weeks. As the library is in a listed building the plans need to be approved by the conservation officer. This will see the entrance refurbished and a lift installed to make the first floor accessible.

Once this is done the reading library will be relocated to the first floor and the area vacated on the ground floor will be refurbished to create 2 adult education classrooms. The classrooms cannot be created on the first floor due to the structure of the floor not being able to support the partitions.

The council wish to ensure that there is little impact on residents during the first phase of enabling works. The main purpose to carry out the first phase of works is to ensure that the library can remain open throughout refurbishment and to accommodate two new Adult Education classrooms, a new lift and new room to replace the existing structure on the first floor landing.

The new facilities at Brentford Library will include: 

• a fully refurbished library
• more meeting rooms and spaces for adult education classes and local organisations to use
• more quiet study space and a dedicated children’s library
• comfortable seating and natural light throughout
• excellent Wi-Fi and IT
• refurbished public toilets with disabled and baby change facilities.

Councillor Sue Sampson, Cabinet Member for Libraries and Leisure, Hounslow Council, said: “The redevelopment of Brentford Library will deliver on our ambition to significantly enhance our public spaces and services. The modernised library space will provide many exciting opportunities in the heart of the community, including skills training, employment support and advice, family learning and key basic skills courses such as English, Maths, ICT and ESOL courses, along with creative art courses.”

If granted planning permission, enabling works should start during summer 2019. The current library would remain open throughout works. Better quality drawings have been requested.

You can still comment on this application.

April 4, 2019