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Listed library needs £1.5m in renovation works

Tom Jacksonand
Phil Shepka,Cambridgeshire political reporter
Tom Jackson/BBC Wooden floorboards, which are broken up, in the Mill Road library building. People are standing in the distance.Tom Jackson/BBC
The Mill Road building dates from the late-Victorian era and had fallen into a state of disrepair, according to the council

An "iconic" Grade II listed former library needs at least £1.5m in renovation works as plans to turn it into an arts and community centre move a step closer.

The empty building on Mill Road, Cambridge, was last used as a library in 1996 and has been in a state of disrepair for several years.

After two previous sales fell through, the owner Cambridgeshire County Council accepted a "near market value" bid on Tuesday from the Mill Road Community Interest Company (CIC), whose plans include an auditorium and creative space.

Matthew Webb, CIC chairman, said a "very generous local resident donor" had provided money for the purchase and it was looking for "other major donors" to come forward.

The plans for the building, which dates from the 1890s, include an auditorium with retractable seating, a mixed-use gallery, cafe space and creative work areas.

Tom Jackson/BBC An empty Mill Road library building. It has its walls painted white, with a few cardboard boxes lying to the side of the room. The dark door is open to the outside.Tom Jackson/BBC
It is the third time the county council has tried selling the building
Historical red brick library on Mill Road in Cambridge. It has a large entrance door fronting on to a small side road and an ornate glass and iron tower at the top.
The building is on the corner of Headly Street, near the Mill Road railway bridge

In 2023, children's charity Centre 33 pulled out due to the amount of work it said was needed on the building.

In October 2024, the council agreed to sell the building to a new bidder, but the sale fell through in 2025 due to a dispute over a small patch of land at the site.

Tom Jackson/BBC Head and shoulder image of Matthew Webb. He has short red hair and is wearing a white shirt. He is standing in the Mill Road library building.Tom Jackson/BBC
Matthew Webb said they were hoping to bring the old library "back to life"

After Tuesday's county council assets and procurement committee agreed a sale to the CIC, Webb said: "We're going to bring it back to life as an art centre that's for everybody.

"For the last five years or so people have been telling us they want to see this space as a place of meeting and joy and seeing films or exhibitions or crafts or workshops."

Kate Collins, from the CIC, said the company wanted the building to be "open all day".

"It was built for the community and people want it back in community use," she said.

"It's also the only listed building on Mill Road itself and it's quite iconic — quite a landmark building that's right in the centre of the community."

Tom Jackson/BBC Head and shoulders of Karen Young. Karen has dark shoulder length hair, is wearing glasses and a chain-like necklace and white top. She is standing in an open doorway.Tom Jackson/BBC
Karen Young said the county council had "spent a lot of money" on the building

Karen Young, the Liberal Democrat chairwoman of the council committee, said the council had "spent a lot of money bringing it up to the standard it is now".

"We tried to sell this two times before and both groups, once they got through the process, took a look at the building and decided that it was too much for them," she said.

"So [I'm] really delighted the Mill Road Library CIC has produced such a robust business plan showing they really understand what it will take to run this place.

"They have understood the building, have fantastic architectural plans for it and it all looks fabulous."

Young added there was a "wave of loneliness in the city, a lack of community, people are very stressed and it's fabulous to have a community place where someone can come and meet people, do things together".

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