Havering Council seeks £500k grant for Romford Library refurbishment

Key Points:

• Havering Council is applying for a £499,000 grant from Arts England to refurbish Romford Library.
• The library last received major improvements in 2008.
• The proposed refurbishment includes modern design, fixtures, fittings, study areas, and dynamic zones for children.
• The council says the building is outdated, ineffective, and lacks warmth and inclusivity.
• This comes after three borough libraries were closed in March 2025 to save £288,000 a year.
• Romford Library, one of seven remaining, is deemed a priority for investment.
• If unsuccessful, the council will lose £4,200 in consultancy fees.
• A formal application to Arts Council England’s Libraries Improvement Fund opens on June 24, 2025.
• The plan aligns with the council’s 2024–2029 library strategy to improve core library services.
• Campaigners argue the closures hurt the community despite budget needs.

Havering Council is bidding for a £499,000 grant to modernise Romford Library, citing outdated infrastructure and a growing need for inclusive, functional public space—two months after shuttering three other libraries to save costs.

Why is Havering Council applying for the grant?

As reported by Sebastian Mann of the Romford Recorder, Havering Council has revealed plans to seek £499,000 from Arts Council England to refurbish Romford Library, the flagship site of its borough-wide service. The funding, if secured, will be used to provide “high-quality, durable design, fixtures, and fittings,” aiming to modernise a facility last overhauled in 2008.

In an official statement, the council said:

“It is now time to modernise Romford Library, as the current space, décor, and layout are outdated and no longer meet the evolving needs of our diverse and growing community.”

What are the planned improvements for Romford Library?

According to the report by Sebastian Mann, LDRS (Romford Recorder), the proposed refurbishment will include:

• New quiet study areas
• “Dynamic zones for children”
• Event space
• Meeting pods

The goal is to ensure the library grows alongside the community it serves. The current infrastructure is said to “lack the warmth and inclusivity” needed to welcome users and has a layout described as “ineffective.”

What does the council say about the need for change?

The 60-year-old facility reportedly struggles with seasonal temperatures due to poor infrastructure and lacks bookable spaces for independent businesses or community groups.

As Sebastian Mann of the Romford Recorder notes, the council sees this refurbishment as essential to meeting the borough’s educational and community needs.

How does this fit into broader financial and strategic decisions?

The library grant bid comes two months after the closure of three other libraries:

• South Hornchurch
• Gidea Park
• Harold Wood

These closures, finalised on March 31, 2025, are intended to save the council £288,000 annually, part of a broader effort to offset a £74 million budget shortfall.

While campaigners argued that the social value of libraries outweighed the savings, the council maintained the closures were “crucial”.

What happens if the funding application fails?

Havering Council has confirmed that if it is not successful in obtaining the grant from Arts Council England, it will lose £4,200 already spent in consultancy fees to prepare the application.

The deadline to submit a formal bid for the Libraries Improvement Fund is 24 June 2025. Only organisations pre-approved by Arts Council England are allowed to apply in this round.

How has the public responded to the council’s library decisions?

The wider library strategy has drawn mixed reactions. Some residents welcomed reinvestment in Romford Library, while others remain critical of the earlier closures.

Campaigners previously described the £288,000 in savings as marginal when compared to the community impact of shutting down three public spaces. The council, however, emphasises the need to make “tough decisions” amid financial hardship.

What’s the council’s long-term strategy for libraries?

Havering’s Library Strategy 2024–2029 outlines a pivot towards consolidation and enhancement of core library services. Romford Library remains a central focus, as it accounts for over 80% of library visits and book loans across the borough.

The current bid is part of a broader commitment to retain a modern, accessible public library network while managing limited resources effectively.