The reopening of Plumstead’s historic Grade II listed library, as a modern community building moved another step closer on Tuesday 30 July when Cllr Danny Thorpe, Leader of the Council, laid the last piece of mortar.
He was joined by Cllr Sizwe James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth; Cllr Miranda Williams, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure, and the Voluntary Sector; Cllr Matthew Morrow and Cllr Angela Cornforth of Plumstead ward; and representatives from Osborne, the Council’s main contractor.
Cllr Danny Thorpe, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “When the library reopens early next year, following £16m investment from the Council, it will do so as The Plumstead Centre to reflect its position in the heart of the community as a library, leisure centre and social hub. I cannot wait to see it returned to its former glory and given a new lease of life that will see it serve the community again for many years to come. The opening of The Plumstead Centre will stimulate the wider regeneration of Plumstead and bring the high street alive with a civic centre that the local community can be justly proud of.”
Cllr Sizwe James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth, said: “Plumstead is a priority regeneration area for the Council and we are focusing substantial resources from both the public and private sector to bring forward positive change in the area. In addition to investing in The Plumstead Centre we are also working with local groups, improving the appearance of the high street, making transport improvements, turning the power station into a business space and delivering new homes.”
The Plumstead Library and Leisure Centre is a sensitive refurbishment of a listed building and a new contemporary extension, that combines library, leisure and cultural facilities all under one roof. The building will be fully accessible with increased opening hours, and will also feature:
* a new state-of-the-art library
* sport, leisure and cultural spaces, including a soft play facility for young people and families
* state-of-the-art gym and fitness studios, and a multi-purpose sports space provided to include badminton and dance.
Andrew Osborne, Chairman of Osborne, said: “We are delighted to celebrate the topping out of this flagship £16 million Plumstead Library project. At Osborne, we have a track record and ethos of working closely with our customers, to deliver high quality projects that will improve the lives of those in the local community.”
The construction phase of the project is employing local people and is a flagship element of the Plumstead Urban Framework, adopted in 2015 to make improvements to Plumstead as a place to live and work, along with the train station, new housing, gyratory traffic system, and more.
You can read more about the refurbishment of the library and the regeneration of the local area on the Council website and register with us to receive Plumstead regeneration email updates.
Read more about the refurbishment of the library and the regeneration of the local area on the Council’s website and register to receive Plumstead regeneration email updates.
Header image: Cllr Miranda Williams, Andrew Osborne, Cllr Danny Thorpe and Cllr Sizwe
