Planning permission has been given for the contentious new North Kensington Library and Youth Centre.

The local authority was given the green light by the Kensington and Chelsea planning committee at a meeting on Thursday (March 30) night.

It says it will offer a new state-of-the-art facility just a stone’s throw from the current historic North Kensington Library in Ladbroke Grove .

North Kensington Library

But protesters are angry that the original library is being leased to a private school, and say the building, which celebrated its 125th birthday in 2016, should be retained for public use, accusing the council of asset stripping .

It will be built on current youth centre property on Lancaster Road, just 50 metres away from the current library, with construction expected to start this summer.

Kensington and Chelsea Council , which is putting £18 million into the project, also revealed that the commercial space in the new building will be leased to another private school, neighbouring Chepstow House, after it offered the highest rent.

An artist’s impression of the proposed new building from Lancaster Road

The existing library will remain until the “new bigger, better library and youth centre” opens by 2020.

Among the scheme’s highlights listed by the council are:

  • A larger library floor space – 829 sq m compared with a current area of 580 sq m to accommodate an improved selection of books, magazines and newspapers, a reading room and informal activity space
  • The new library arranged all on the ground floor making it easier for wheelchair users, buggies and people with reduced mobility to navigate a dedicated children’s library and more quiet study space
  • More meeting rooms and spaces for adult education classes and local organisations to use
  • Comfortable seating and natural light throughout
  • Excellent Wi-Fi and IT
  • Access to refreshment facilities
  • Public toilets with baby change facilities
  • An improved youth centre
  • A rooftop games area for sport and recreation, with dedicated changing facilities available for building users and the wider community
  • A range of energy efficiency measures to reduce maintenance and running costs

The existing library has been in use since 1891 and was once regarded as “one of London’s finest public libraries” but the council say it is poorly insulated, expensive to heat and hard to renovate to meet modern library requirements as it is listed.

Cabinet member for education and libraries Emma Will said: “At a time when libraries up and down the country have been closed, this council has decided to invest many millions in building a new North Kensington Library that will, in library terms, be superior in every way.

Placards used during a North Kensington Library demonstration

“Not only that but our young people will be able to enjoy a new youth centre which will serve their needs much better.

“Developing this underused site on Lancaster Road will also help us meet the financial challenges we are likely to face for many years to come.

“Much-needed income will be generated from letting out commercial space in the new library and leasing the old library which will be used to help us preserve front-line services.”

Sian Berry during a visit to the library in April last year

The Royal borough said the money paid by Notting Hill Prep School for the 25 year lease of the current library building “significantly exceeds an open market offer”, but opponents to the scheme launched a Public Not Private protest, which was backed by the Green’s Sian Berry during her campaign to become London Mayor .

One demonstration culminated in demonstrators occupying the council chamber during a meeting, as tempers flared (see video at top).

The new library has been designed by architects Piercy&Company.

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