Aspatria’s underused library is set to become a community centre.
Plans have been lodged to convert the Market Square building to house the library and other community organisations.
Architect Day Cummins has been tasked by Cumbria County Council with the alteration and extension to provide a home to “different services under one roof.”
Day Cummins said: “Some areas of external space to the rear are to be incorporated for use as external play areas and pram/toy storage, however these are areas that are currently not used by either the library or the adjacent school.”
The layout and access to the existing building and it’s surrounding land will be not adversely affected by the proposal, it said and the school had been consulted.
It added it was in agreement to the use of the spaces.
It is expected that training and meeting rooms will be rented out to organisations like Citizens Advice and adult education when needed.
“The local children’s centre shall also take some permanent space within the building and the children’s library area shall be improved to make it more welcoming and child friendly.”
Changes to the structure would involve a single storey extension to its front with a double pitched roof no higher than the existing. Materials will be similar to those already used but efficiency will be improved where possible. Day Cummins said that the proposal was a “well-considered design solution” for the building.
“These changes will allow improved usage of the building by a number of new services and provide much needed additional facilities to the local community with little impact upon the surrounding area,” it added.
