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Temporary library could open in Sherwood amid delays to new facilities

By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter

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Temporary facilities are now being planned while Nottingham City Council looks to get Sherwood Library open by “actively considering all legal options available”.

The opening of the new library in Spondon Street was delayed beyond a planned summer opening last year, following the discovery of a raft of problems with the building.

Local developer Hockley Developments Ltd was tasked with building the facility with the help of its contractors, however the council says it is unable to commence the final fit-out due to the continued need for essential work on the building.

Library campaigners have branded the situation a “tug of war” between the council and the developer, and a petition was handed to the council by two Sherwood ward councillors in May advocating for its opening by July 15.

At a meeting of Full Council on Monday (July 14), Sherwood ward councillor Adele Williams (Lab) asked for an opening date for the facility.

Cllr Neghat Khan (Lab), the council’s leader, said she had made the situation her personal responsibility, and said legal options are now being “actively considered”.

Temporary library facilities in Sherwood are now also being considered.

“Let me say clearly, I share the frustration with locals who want and deserve their library to be open,” Cllr Khan said.

“Residents have waited far too long. We are now actively considering all legal options available to us.

“As you would expect I have to be careful in what I can say in public to avoid saying anything that might affect the council’s legal position. We are determined to get what was promised: a safe, usable library for Sherwood, and we will not allow the people of Nottingham to pick up the bill for someone else’s failure.

“I am committing today to working with Cllr Williams and the Sherwood ward councillors to explore all possible options to restoring some form of library service in the area, even while we resolve the issues with the building.”

In January this year executive member for leisure and culture, Cllr Sam Lux (Lab) – who is now on parental leave – claimed all defects had been resolved, and the council pledged to open the library in summer 2025.

However, libraries campaigner Des Conway discovered in May – through a Freedom of Information request – that dozens of problems persisted.

These included the need for the installation of new entrance doors, replacement of plants on the living wall and confirmation of a working irrigation system, repairs to ceiling tiles which have been damaged by a leaking roof, and a non-functional toilet.

The Labour-run council sold the site to Hockley Developments under an agreement the library would be built at no capital cost to the authority, and that a 125-year lease would be agreed at a nominal rent.

Problems first became apparent after the scheme’s previous contractor, Dako Construction, collapsed into administration.

While a new contractor was found and the library building was handed back to the council at the end of 2023 for the final fit-out, its opening has been delayed ever since due to the defects.

A spokesperson for Hockley Developments added: “Hockley Developments are not aware of any legal action regarding Sherwood Library.

“We communicated with the council project manager last month and had hoped they would occupy the first floor of this building by now.

“We have offered to have our build contractor carry out the fit out for the council, as they did successfully on the other floors of this building in 2023.

“As previously stated, we have not owned this building for approximately 18 months now.”