Plans for ‘landmark’ £14.5m Stockport library cut back due to rising costs

Plans for a ‘21st century library’ in Stockport look set to be scaled back after the flagship £14.5m project was hit by soaring inflation costs.

The new ‘learning and discovery centre’ – provisionally dubbed ‘Stockroom’ – is to be based at Merseyway shopping centre, and also includes a sensory room, performance space and a cafe.

Bankrolled by the government’s Future High Streets Fund, the scheme was dogged by controversy due to the transfer of  services from the town’s historic Central Library on the A6. A last compromise solution – which involves thousands of books remaining at Central Library – was signed off last summer.

But a council report says the construction industry been hit by ‘significant inflation’ since the cash was awarded- and Stockroom ‘has not been immune to these financial challenges’. The document, which will go to cabinet next week, recommends a ‘revision’ of the plans and also for the council to pump an extra £2m into the project to ensure it is delivered ‘in line with the original bid and vision for Stockroom’.

It continues: “It has become clear that in order to bring the costs to a more manageable level, steps need to be taken to revise the overall scope of Stockroom.

“Since the original business case was submitted, several elements have been added to the Stockroom project. In the main these are related to additional council services that were not in the original bid but in theory could be incorporated in the overall Stockroom offer.”

It notes non-construction costs  facing the council including furniture, audio visual items and professional fees.

The cost of the project had swollen to £21.8m, but has been driven down to £16.5m following discussions with the contractor and a scaling back of the plans.

However, papers say  ‘drastic’ options which would have changed the scheme too radically from the original vision have been discounted.

Instead, it adds, the ‘revision has been done by reducing the scope of the project only in certain isolated areas’.

The key areas proposed now to not be included in Stockroom, are as follows:

New stair and lift core

Papers say cutting this could provide a ‘substantial saving’ as the construction work involves a large amount of excavation and below-ground work, carrying a ‘significant’ cost and risk.

“To mitigate against the loss of this item, it is proposed that a provisional sum could be set aside to enhance the existing stair and lift cores that service Stockroom and the wider Merseyway Centre,” the document states.

It adds that this would also allow a new unit to be created opposite the Post Office, potentially providing ‘an opportunity for a new letting for Merseyway’.

Deanery Way section

The report says the removal of this section could save floor space and enable the relocation, increase in prominence and potential expansion of the Children’s Library,  which currently occupies a corner of the ground floor.

At first floor level the removal of this section would impact on the proposed ‘makers and two community rooms.

It is proposed that the large events space on the first floor is adapted for a more flexible use, while the original makers space.

The council has also been in talks with Easy Peel – which occupies the adjacent unit – about the possibility of providing makers activities  ‘that could be included within the Stockroom offer and mitigate against the loss of the original dedicated space for this activity.

Area west of Adlington Mall (Ground Floor)

Council documents say rejigging this space could ‘provide a significant saving’.

However, options for how resident advice and guidance services could be accommodated within the remaining floor plan would need to be considered if this area was not available.

It is possible they may have to be located elsewhere in the council’s estate.

Public Health and general well-being messaging and initiatives will be accommodated within the main Stockroom floorspace.

Area west of Adlington Mall (First Floor)

According to the report, a reshuffle in this area would enable classrooms to be moved to the front of the development, where they would benefit from access to the first floor balcony and additional natural light.

“This will also prove the opportunity for greater flexibility in the age groups the space could accommodate,” papers add.

Changes to the ground and first floor areas could also provide ‘significant additional savings’ to maintenance and estate services.

“The proposed mitigation would see more flexible utilisation of the large events space ensuring occupancy is maximised,” the document adds.

The  sensory facilities would be retained and further work will be done as to establish where these should be located.

“There is an opportunity to make these facilities more accessible to the public by locating them on the ground floor as part of the overall Parent and Child offer,” the report says.