Hackney Central Library Refurbishment: £19m Revamp by Council & Levelling Up Fund

Key Points

• Hackney Central Library will undergo a significant refurbishment from September to December 2025, with closure during this period and alternative book drop services provided.
• The project is part of a broader £19 million regeneration of Hackney Central, funded by the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund and Hackney Council, aiming to rejuvenate key civic buildings and public spaces.
• The refurbishment will deliver modern facilities, improved accessibility, diverse study areas, and a bookable meeting room, responding to extensive community consultation.
• A contract worth nearly £400,000 has been awarded for the library’s design, furniture, and fit-out, with The Design Concept appointed as the lead supplier.
• The revamp is embedded within Hackney’s Libraries Strategy 2022–2026, which seeks to modernise library spaces while retaining their role as inclusive community hubs.
• The Council’s library restructure, designed to ensure sustainability, has involved job cuts and new role creations, sparking union opposition and petitions.
• The Town Hall Square and other nearby civic spaces are also being improved in parallel, with the aim of creating a stronger civic heart in Hackney.
• Statements from Hackney Council leaders, including Deputy Mayor Guy Nicholson and Cllr Chris Kennedy, emphasise the importance of libraries as community assets and the need for sensitive, future-proofed renovations.
• The project is informed by feedback from over 8,000 residents, aiming to balance heritage preservation with modern needs.
• The closure and refurbishment of Hackney Central Library coincide with similar works at Stoke Newington Library and other sites, reflecting a borough-wide strategy for library renewal.

Hackney Central Library, one of the borough’s most prominent public institutions, is set to close its doors for a major refurbishment from September to December 2025. The ambitious project forms part of a sweeping regeneration effort across Hackney Central, designed to modernise civic spaces, improve accessibility, and secure the future of community services for generations to come.

Why Is Hackney Central Library Being Revamped?

As reported by Hackney Council’s official news portal, the closure is necessary to facilitate extensive refurbishment works aimed at transforming the library’s facilities and environment. During the closure, a book drop service will remain available to ensure continued access to core library functions.

According to Love Hackney, the refurbishment will introduce more diverse study areas that maximise natural light, a convenient bookable meeting room, and improved accessibility for all users. The upgrades are intended to respond directly to the needs and aspirations of Hackney’s diverse population, as identified through community engagement.

What Are the Main Features of the Refurbishment?

The awarded contract, detailed on Contracts Finder, outlines a comprehensive redesign of the library’s spatial layout, furniture, and shelving, with a total value of nearly £400,000. The Design Concept, a specialist design firm, has been appointed to deliver the project, which will provide modern and efficient facilities aligned with the ambitions of Hackney Council and the local community.

The project will include:

• Redesigned study and reading areas
• Enhanced natural light throughout the building
• A new, bookable meeting room for community and group use
• Improved accessibility features, ensuring the library is welcoming to all
• Upgraded furniture and flexible spaces to support a variety of activities

How Does the Revamp Fit Into Hackney’s Wider Regeneration Plans?

According to a government case study on the Levelling Up Fund, Hackney Council has secured over £19 million to regenerate the town centre, including investments in the Town Hall Square and library services. These improvements are intended to create a stronger civic heart, increase green space, and support local businesses and markets.

As reported by Hackney Council’s news service and further detailed by Love Hackney, the library’s refurbishment is closely linked to broader upgrades in the area, such as the transformation of Hackney Town Hall Square and improvements to public spaces along Amhurst Road and Pembury Circus.

Deputy Mayor Guy Nicholson, Cabinet Member for Housing Management and Regeneration, stated in a council press release, “This project, developed in close collaboration with the community, led by the talented and experienced MUF Architecture/Art team, will preserve the square’s historical character, its uniqueness and its quirkiness while enhancing it and equipping it for the next 100 years and ensuring it remains a welcoming and inclusive place for all of us”.

What Is Hackney’s Libraries Strategy 2022–2026?

As outlined in the Cabinet Report for Hackney’s Libraries Strategy 2022–2026, the Council is committed to maintaining and improving its eight libraries as vital parts of the borough’s cultural infrastructure. The strategy, approved in 2022, sets out a vision for libraries to innovate and succeed as inclusive, effective, and impactful community spaces.

Cllr Chris Kennedy, Cabinet Member for Health, Adult Social Care, Voluntary Sector and Culture, introduced the strategy by affirming, “The Mayor’s 2022–26 manifesto makes a commitment to the borough’s eight libraries and proposes to retain, and in many instances to improve, Hackney’s libraries in order to deliver a fairer, safer and more sustainable Hackney and celebrate the heart of Hackney through our libraries service”.

The strategy is based on feedback from more than 8,000 residents and aims to:

• Modernise library spaces for flexible, multi-use purposes
• Improve digital access and IT resources
• Enhance study and community areas
• Promote environmental sustainability and tackle inequalities

How Is the Refurbishment Being Funded?

As reported by the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund case study, the £19 million regeneration package for Hackney Central is jointly funded by the UK Government and Hackney Council. The specific contract for Hackney Central Library’s redesign and fit-out is valued at nearly £400,000, with funding allocated from the Council’s capital investment programme and related savings from service restructuring.

The Hackney Post reported that job cuts within the library service have contributed to funding the refurbishment, with 76 roles eliminated and 57 new ones created. This aspect of the funding strategy has been controversial, prompting opposition from Hackney Unison and a petition signed by over 2,000 residents.

A statement from Hackney Council, cited by The Hackney Post, said: “Reducing the roles will deliver savings but also contribute towards service development […] This includes the repairs and renovation planned for Stoke Newington library”.

What Has Been the Community Response?

The Council’s public engagement campaign, referenced in the Cabinet Report and on the Commonplace community forum, involved over 8,450 residents and included surveys, workshops, and consultations with library staff and local organisations. Feedback indicated strong support for improved reading materials, better digital access, more flexible spaces, and the preservation of libraries as trusted community venues.

Petra Roberts, Hackney Council’s Assistant Director for Libraries, told Hackney Citizen regarding a parallel project at Stoke Newington Library, “We are delighted to receive this investment which will help us realise our vision for Stoke Newington Library and make a huge contribution to the lives of local people. Libraries play an increasingly important role in our communities and have become much more than just places where people can borrow books”.

Are There Concerns About Staffing and Service Changes?

As covered by Hackney Citizen and The Hackney Post, the Council’s restructure of library services has sparked union opposition, with concerns over job losses and potential impacts on service quality. Unions have argued that the proposals could have a “devastating impact on the service,” while the Council maintains that the changes are necessary to ensure libraries remain open, safe, and fit for the future.

Cllr Chris Kennedy stated to Hackney Citizen, “There will still be the same number of libraries. We are aiming to have longer opening hours.” He also noted that staff will receive upskilling and extra training, and that security measures have been enhanced in response to recent incidents.

How Will Library Services Be Maintained During the Closure?

According to Hackney Council’s official communications, while Hackney Central Library is closed for refurbishment, a book drop service will be available to ensure that residents can continue to return borrowed items1. The Council has also committed to providing updates via its website and social media channels, and to minimising disruption to library users as much as possible.

What Is the Timeline for the Project?

The refurbishment of Hackney Central Library is scheduled to take place from September to December 2025, with the contract for design and fit-out running from January to September 2025. The Council aims to reopen the library with improved facilities and services by the end of the year.

What Does the Future Hold for Hackney’s Libraries?

Hackney Central Library’s major revamp is just one element of a borough-wide strategy to modernise and safeguard library services for the future. The Council’s Libraries Strategy 2022–2026, coupled with substantial government and local investment, signals a long-term commitment to ensuring that libraries remain at the heart of Hackney’s civic and cultural life.

As the project moves forward, residents and stakeholders will be watching closely to see how the promised improvements materialise and whether the balance between heritage, innovation, and community needs is successfully achieved.