New Green Street Library to open in east London next week

Green Street Library in east London will open on September 28, as part of a wider regeneration scheme, marking the final phase of a £6.5 million project to revitalise Queen’s Market and its surrounding area.

The project has been led by Newham Council’s placemaking team and funded by Newham Council, the Greater London Authority’s Good Growth Fund and the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

Forhad Hussain, mayor of Newham, said: "At a time when libraries across England are closing at a rate of nearly twenty a year, the London Borough of Newham is bucking the trend. Since 2016, an estimated 190 council-run libraries have shut their doors across the country. Green Street represents a direct challenge to that trend.

"Rather than scaling back, Newham has invested in maximising the library’s full potential, making it an essential piece of social infrastructure that serves the range of needs that bring local people through its doors, from health and wellbeing to business support."

More than 1,600 residents contributed to the design and development of the new library through working groups, workshops, surveys, and sessions with young people. Their feedback helped shape everything from the floor plan to the murals featured throughout the building.

The new library is double the size of its predecessor and includes flexible community rooms, public computers, Wi-Fi, and meeting spaces. It will also host a varied programme of activities, from dominoes clubs to yoga and Zumba sessions.

Jules Pipe, deputy mayor of London for planning, regeneration and the fire service, said: "Green Street Library is a great example of how investment in local communities can deliver lasting benefits for residents.

"Through the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund, we have worked in partnership with Newham Council to transform Queen’s Market and the surrounding area, creating welcoming public spaces, supporting local traders and providing a modern library and community hub where it is needed on the high street. Designed with local people and for local people, this new larger space will be a place where residents of all ages can learn, connect and access opportunities, helping to build a fairer and more inclusive London for all."

The two-storey library features a children’s area, bookable meeting rooms, and a boardroom, as well as a dedicated study zone.

The first floor, once used for storage, has been converted into a bright, fully glazed space designed for learning and collaboration.

The project was designed by Office S&M Architects, who subcontracted portions of the project spending toward local retailers.

Hugh McEwen, director at Office S&M Architects, said: "Our team lives, works, has friends and family in Newham, meaning we are deeply committed to the positive outcome of the largest investment in the area for two decades. The co-design process changed the way the building looks and operates, based on what local people told us they needed. A library like this should belong to its neighbourhood in every sense."