Introduction:
In 2009, Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association (bpha) completed a project to redevelop the old Great Shelford Library into a brand new facility. After three years’ work, the new library, which now incorporates affordable housing, was officially opened on 14th November amid great anticipation by local residents.

Background
Situated in Woollards Lane, Great Shelford Library has always been one of the busiest of its size in Cambridgeshire. It has always been used regularly as a valuable informational resource, housing more than 12,000 books, along with audio books, videos and public computers with Internet access. It is highly valued by its members and receives upwards of 40,000 visits per year.

The Challenge
The library had been converted from the ground floor of a former shop and house with rented accommodation on the first floor. The building had been subdivided, there was limited space and it was extremely cramped. Over the years the library had become increasingly unsuitable for modern library and information use.

In addition, the structure meant it was impossible to make the building meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The rented accommodation was no longer habitable and the whole building had become structurally unsound.

If Great Shelford Library were to remain open, Cambridgeshire County Council needed to redevelop it as a 21st century service for the village and surrounding community at no cost to council tax payers.

The Solution
Cambridgeshire County Council asked bpha to be a partner on this project. Together, we developed plans to fulfil all requirements to expand the site, make it DDA compliant and rebuild the flats to Eco Homes’ “Very Good” standards.

One complication, which was discovered during an environmental assessment of the site, was a number of brown, long eared bats – or Plecotusauritus – and common  - or Pipestrelle bats that were living in the roof of the old house. Since bats are a protected species, the new design also had to accommodate these and the bats had to be provided with temporary housing during the construction works.

It was agreed that bpha would meet the construction costs of the new building, and grant funding provided by the Homes and Communities Agency subsidised the build cost of the new homes  for key workers under the 2008-11 National Affordable Homes Programme. The County Council have taken a long lease on the library premises at a peppercorn rent.

The Result
Over a period of approximately 14 months, we replaced the existing building and neighbouring house with a new ground floor library and five shared ownership apartments on the first floor. During this time the library continued to operate from a static mobile library permanently parked in the Memorial Hall car park. The temporary library offered a range of books, talking books and videos for adults and children (although public computers and Internet access were not available).

The new roof structure includes openings and the installation of bat boxes to the rear of the building to allow the bats to make their home at the site.

The new library is double the size of the existing building with more computers, an accessible toilet, a larger and more vibrant children’s area and space for events.

The result is a bigger, lighter and more spacious library with improved services, the latest facilities and full access for disabled people, that also helps to meet local housing needs. Three out of five of the flats are already occupied and the final two will shortly be occupied as well.

Sarah Ireland, Assistant Development Director at bpha said: “This was an exciting development for Great Shelford, providing a brand new library and much-needed homes for key workers. We are committed to developing schemes which are sensitive to the needs of local areas and this includes protecting local wildlife and carrying out conservation work.”

Great Shelford’s rebuilt library is “wonderful”, “one of the best libraries in the world” and “a great asset to the village” according to comments in the visitors’ book. Another said “it has been amazing to watch this building developing and at last it has landed” and another added “I look forward to enjoying many happy visits to this lovely place”.

For more information, please contact Suzanne Miller, Communications Officer at bpha on 01234 791 036 or suzanne.miller@bpha.org.uk