The former library building located at Hall Grounds in Loftus is to be demolished with works starting on Monday 11 September.
The library was relocated to the newly refurbished and extended Duncan Place facility in August and is now open to the public.
The new library is a modern and multi-use space, alongside revitalised areas for youth and family activities including via a brand-new community hall.
Subject to planning permission, the cleared, former library site would then be used to provide more much needed car parking in Loftus. A total of 66% of respondents acknowledged, during a consultation exercise, that a lack of car parking was one of the biggest issues affecting Loftus and that there was a need for further space for visitors.
If approved, the new car park would be built in early 2024 and would provide up to 30 new spaces for the High Street and the nearby marketplace customers and businesses and would complement the other existing car parks located at North Road, and the recently opened Handale Car Park.
The demolition will be carried out by contractors MGL Group. Nearby residents will soon receive an information letter notifying them of the plans.
Adjacent roads will not require traffic management but there may be times a footpath closure is in place on Hall Grounds.
The aim is to complete the demolition by the end of November 2023.
Cllr Lynn Pallister, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said:
“As a Council, we are working hard to restore pride in our communities, focusing regeneration in the areas which need it the most.
“We’d like to thank everyone in Loftus for their patience while works have been carried out so far. We know this has caused significant disruption to your lives. But when these works are finished, you will see a transformed Loftus, with more facilities and attractions for residents and more visitors spending time and money in our local businesses.”
Loftus was awarded £5.8million as part of the Government’s Future High Streets Fund initiative in August 2021 after Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council submitted a bid to transform the area. The Council is also providing match funding for this from the Welcome to Redcar and Cleveland and Indigenous Growth Funds, meaning £11.8million will be invested in Loftus.
To find out more, please visit https://loftusmasterplan.co.uk/