Members of the King’s Lynn Town Board have had the chance to take an early look at the town’s new library and community hub which is set to bring together a range of facilities and services in one central place.
The new building, located on Baxter’s Plain, is currently under construction and will house a modern, accessible library, learning, and community hub which will be available for a variety of uses by local organisations, groups, and residents.
The new hub will provide a range of facilities and services all in one place, including a new library that will be bigger than the existing one, with more books on display. In addition, the rare book collections, which are currently locked away, will be on public display in the new hub and available to view via booked, curated sessions.
As well as the library, the hub will also play host to a number of Norfolk County Council services such as Adult Learning.
The project, which is being delivered by Norfolk County Council, is benefitting from Town Deal funding through King’s Lynn Town Board.
Now, as work progresses on site by contractors Mace, members of the board were invited to take part in a tour of the site.
King’s Lynn Town Board Interim Chair Vicky Etheridge said: “It was fantastic to have the opportunity to visit the site and imagine what the new hub will look and feel like and envisage the new and different types of activities and services that could be offered here.
“Over the last few years, the board has been involved in the development of the ambitious and exciting plans for the hub, and so it really is quite a milestone to now see the building taking shape, it is set to be a flagship building in our town centre and will really change the aspect of that part of town.
“I look forward to seeing the new hub open its doors to serve the local community, providing another great reason for people to come into the town centre.”
Councillor Alistair Beales, Leader of the Borough Council and a member of the King’s Lynn Town Board commented: “The new hub is going to provide an invaluable community resource with a variety of services and facilities all under one roof, designed to meet the different needs of local people, businesses, and community groups.
“What’s really important about the new space is that it will accommodate a larger library for the town, and the rare book collections will not only be displayed but will also be available for public viewing.
“The tour showed just how the ambition for the hub is being realised, and it was really good to see the building as it is developing, with the plans becoming reality.
“Thank you to everyone who has played a part in getting the project to this stage, and in particular, everyone who has taken part in the consultation over the years.”
Plans for the new hub have been developed with the involvement of the local community, including through work with schools, to help to inform the offer on site. Further engagement, such as around the name for the building, is set to take place in the coming months as the development progresses, with the new hub set to open its doors in Autumn 2025.
Cllr Stuart Dark, who represents Norfolk County Council on the King’s Lynn Town Board, said: “It’s wonderful to see the new hub taking shape: we’ve been discussing and planning this venue for years, and we’re getting closer and closer to welcoming the public to their new community hub. The design has been shaped by local residents and the needs of the community itself, and I’m very proud of all the hard work going on to make it the perfect fit for King’s Lynn.”
Anyone wishing to be kept up to date with the progress of the project can subscribe to receive regular updates from Norfolk County Council here: Community hubs – Norfolk County Council
