By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
A campaigner says city councillors need to “get a grip” of delays which have put back the opening of the new Sherwood Library.
A contract with local developer Hockley Developments to demolish the old library in Spondon Street and build a new facility, with added commercial space and housing, was first signed in 2020.
It followed a consultation in 2017 with library users, who outlined their hopes for the future of the facility, which was in a poor state of repair.
However in March this year the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported progress on the site had stalled due to the collapse of the scheme’s previous contractor, Dako Construction Limited.
This firm appointed administrators in January 2023, and a new contractor had to be appointed.
While the library building was handed back to the council towards the end of 2023, the authority said in March its opening was being been hampered by “snagging issues”.
Despite the problems the council had hoped to access the building to start a fit-out ready for opening in the summer, but problems have continued.
They include a leak in the main atrium and problems with the internal and external trims of the building.
The authority says there are also issues with fire access hatches and fire safety sign-off, cracked windows, the watering system for the living wall, and problems have further been raised by the council’s highways department relating to areas outside the building which are not meeting adoptable standards.
Des Conway a campaigner for Save Nottingham Libraries, said: “I know when it rains very heavily, the rain gushes down the outside of the building, but also worryingly down the inside of the building, the foyer where the library entrance is.
“I think [Cllr] Sam Lux, and the three Sherwood councillors, need to get a grip on the situation as a matter of urgency.”
Cllr Lux, the Executive Member for Carbon Reduction, Leisure and Culture at the council, said: “We understand and share the disappointment felt by Sherwood residents.
“We’ve been pressing the developer for months to rectify several building issues which have prevented the council from getting inside to complete the internal fit-out.
“Once these works are completed, we’ll have a clearer idea of an opening date.”
The site was originally sold to Hockley Developments with an agreement that a library would be built at no capital cost to the council, and that a 125-year lease would be created at a nominal rent.
Its sister company, called Hockley Developments (Mansfield Road) Ltd, is behind the Sherwood Library scheme.
In February this year it was sold and shares transferred to Manchester-based Andrew Tommins.
Mr Tommins was appointed as a director of the sister company the same month, taking over from previous director Alan Forsyth.
Concerns were raised over the sale of the company and the impacts on the project.
However, Hockley Developments said at the time the sale of this arm of its business behind the project does not impact the library, having already been signed off at the end of 2023 by council surveyors.
Hockley Developments has been contacted for comment.
