Green measures mean new library cost has spiralled by millions of pounds

Dan Grimmer

2 July 2024 at 1:00 am·2-min read

An artist's impression of the new King's Lynn library <i>(Image: Hudson Architects)</i> — An artist's impression of the new King's Lynn library *(Image: Hudson Architects)*

The need for green measures has added millions of pounds to the bill to replace a Norfolk library - but council leaders insist the spiralling spend will be worth it.

The price tag for the King's Lynn Multi User Hub has soared to £14.2m, having previously risen from the initial £6.36m in 2021 to £12.4m a year later.

The former Argos building which is set to become King's Lynn's new library (Image: Chris Bishop)

Norfolk County Council said green measures to minimise energy consumption and reduce the carbon impact of the building - in the former Argos store in the Vancouver Quarter shopping centre - had upped the bill.

Officers said "greater clarity" on how the site needs to be developed had revealed the need for added spending.

The Conservative-controlled cabinet agreed to earmark a further £1.54m.

The scheme, which will include a community centre and new library, would replace the town's London Road library - the Carnegie building.

The current library in King's Lynn (Image: © Archant Norfolk 2015)

Officers said: "The council has sought to develop a high-quality public building that reflects the heritage and street scene of this historic part of Kings Lynn, while also looking to create an attractive and modern building.

"The project has also sought to look to minimise energy consumption and use technologies to reduce the carbon impact of this building, particularly looking at heating, ventilation and lighting across the site.

"This has resulted in an uplift in the projected costs for the project."

Some money is coming from Norfolk County Council, which needs to make £44m of cuts and savings next year, while £7.4m is from the £25m King's Lynn Town's Deal.

Inflation has also pushed up the price of the £17m The Place hub in Great Yarmouth.

The Place in Great Yarmouth (Image: Denise Bradley)

The council agreed to add £350,000 towards that scheme, in the town's former Palmers department store.

That project, under construction, will include a new public library, plus a university and learning centre.

Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, planning and transportation, said the council should be "commended" for its spending.

He said: "This will transform these town centres. This is us putting our mark on how we can change the town centres and the footfall within the town centres."

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