Looking ahead to bringing the library back to Liskeard:
Now that we have, mostly, navigated the rough waters of the pandemic, we’re looking forward to moving ahead with the Liskeard Library project, creating a unique space for the people of Liskeard and beyond, with a view to opening the bottom floor as a library once more in summer of 2022.
We have bold new plans for the upper floors, with services including co-working and meeting spaces, daytime workshops and evening events – but we’re very excited to first be honouring the original intensions for the space when it was constructed in 1896.
Designed by John Passmore Edwards (b.1823 d.1911 – Passmore Edwards was a British journalist, newspaper owner and philanthropist, and briefly a Member of Parliament) the building was always intended to serve the people of Liskeard as a purpose-built library space.
Where we are now:
We’ve recently removed the dry rot – but have possibly found asbestos, so we’re testing to make sure we can proceed safely to create a safe and healthy environment in future. All of this, plus Covid has caused delays but we have been working hard on the various design phases and are now looking for a contractor to undertake the building work needed to deliver the re-designed ground floor.
It would be simpler for us as an organisation to wait until we have everything in place to renovate the entire building, but we want to avoid further delays and enable the library to return to the town centre as soon as possible.
Real Ideas is working with a great design team, including: CFD Architects (Saltash), Bailey Partnership – Project Managers & Quantity Surveyors (Plymouth), Martin Perry Associates – Structural Engineers (Liskeard), and Hoare Lea – M&E Consultants (Plymouth), to create the plans for the future of Liskeard Library. Now we’re looking for skilled contractors to deliver these plans.
Information about the tender:
Real Ideas are looking for contractors to undertake the refurbishment and development of the Grade II listed Liskeard Library building on Barras Street, Liskeard.
The refurbishment will be undertaken in a number of phases, this current process will be to undertake the first phase of development. Phase 1 will have an indicative budget of £390,000. To apply please for the contract please email lenna.bithell@realideas.org to request the ITT pack.
Applications close 12pm 24th October 2021. If you have any queries, please email the same address.
Real Ideas would like to thank the Cornwall Council and the Architectural Heritage Fund for their considerable project grants. We are expecting the total investment in the Liskeard Library to total £1 million, including £260,000 from Cornwall Council and £180,000 from the Architectural Heritage Fund.
