Plans to move Beckenham Library scrapped over potential £1m cost

By Lachlan Leeming, Local Democracy Reporter

Long-running plans to relocate Beckenham Library to the nearby public hall have been shelved, after a report revealed nearly £1m worth of work would have to be done to bring the hall up to scratch.

Abandoning the move – which would also torpedo plans to build up to 46 new homes on the current library site – was discussed for the first time at a meeting of Bromley’s renewal, recreation and housing scrutiny committee.

Chairman of the committee, Cllr Michael Rutherford, said reports prepared by consultants showed the work which would need to be done to the grade-II listed Victorian building was much more than expected.

The news to scrap the scheme was met with mixed comments from councillors.

Pictured top: Beckenham Library