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The British Library is officially getting a ‘groundbreaking’ makeover. A staggering £1.1 billion is going towards making the building by St Pancras station bigger, better and more innovative than ever before.
The huge extension, which will open the library up across three sides, was approved by Camden council in July last year but since then it’s been waiting on confirmed backing from developers. Now, Japanese company Mitsui Fudosan has finally said that it’s ready to press ahead.
That means that the British Library is getting a new foyer, new public entrances and around 100,000 square feet of new public space. There’ll be new exhibition galleries doubling the size of the building’s existing gallery space and a shiny new learning centre.
On top of that, there will be 600,000 sq ft of new commercial space with hopes to attract businesses within the commercial science and life sciences sectors. There’ll be 'incubator desks' within those new business spaces, 10 percent of which will be free to use for locals.
A new community garden will also be installed on Ossulston Street with an aim to include local residents in its design and management.
Rebecca Lawrence, chief executive of the British Library, said: ‘The plans will open up the Library even further, creating an expanded national library with state-of-the-art new spaces, harnessing the power of collaboration to build a new public realm linking communities and the Knowledge Quarter and deliver significant investment in the UK.
‘We look forward to working with philanthropists, our partners and community to create a groundbreaking new hub for science, innovation and knowledge that will welcome future generations of visitors, learners, researchers and budding entrepreneurs.’
As part of the planning agreement, the scheme will also make a £23m contribution towards affordable housing in Camden and provide opportunities for skills and career development for locals and young people.
Work to upgrade the British Library is due to start next year, with completion expected by 2032.
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