The Next Chapter Project – What’s Happening This Week?

Find our what's happening during the construction phase of our project

What’s happening in March?

The Lancaster Room is our site office, and the side carriageway, the Inner library and the Upper Reading Rooms are hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the inner library ‘secret’ door.
The Inner library is undergoing conservation to the floor, installation of the heating trenches, structural works, rewiring and redecoration.
The dividing screen in the Upper Reading Rooms has been removed and the cupola opened.
Conservation work to the cupola is taking place, both internally and externally, via a scaffold.
The Upper Reading Room is being rewired and the walls are being prepared for decoration.
The timber frame for the new extension is near completion and the first fix electrics and plumbing are going in. Insulation, roofing, and cladding are in process.
The metal frame for the garden room has been erected and glass is being installed.
All services are now in the Outer Library and ‘office’ reading room – thank you for your patience while we work on other parts of the building.
Until the new build is completed, a temporary unisex lavatory is available in the front cloakroom.

What’s happening in February?

The Lancaster Room is our site office, and the side carriageway, the Inner library and the Upper Reading Rooms are hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the inner library ‘secret’ door.
The Inner library is undergoing conservation to the floor, installation of the heating trenches, structural works, and rewiring.
The dividing screen in the Upper Reading Rooms is being removed and the cupola is being opened.
The timber frame for the new extension is near completion and the first fix electrics and plumbing are going in.
The metal frame for the garden room is being erected.
All services are now in the Outer Library and office reading room – thank you for your patience while we work on other parts of the building.
Until the new build is completed, a temporary unisex lavatory is available in the front cloakroom.

January 2024

The Lancaster Room is our site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door.
The timber frame is being erected for the new extension, ground floor and first floor. Windows are being delivered on 22^nd
We are moving the research service into the Outer Library – thank you for your patience while we undertake this move.
We are protecting the books in the Inner Library with Tyvek covering but collections remain accessible via our bookable research service.
The Upper Reading Room and Stirling room are now hard hat areas and not accessible. The dividing screen is being removed and the cupola is being opened.
New heating infrastructure has temporarily connected to the old heaters, while trench heaters are installed in the Inner Library.
Doorways to the new build have been made at ground and first floor level in the stairwell – but boarded from the inside for security and safety.
Until the new build is completed, a temporary unisex lavatory is available in the front cloakroom.

4 -20 December 2023

The Lancaster Room is now the site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door
The timber frame is being erected for the new extension.
New heating infrastructure is being temporarily connected to the old heaters, while trench heaters are installed.
Doorways to the new build have been made at ground and first floor level in the stairwell – but boarded from the inside for security and safety.
Until the new build is completed, a temporary unisex lavatory is available in the front cloakroom.

1 -30 November 2023

The Lancaster Room is now the site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door.
The extension floor is being levelled and the steel and concrete base is being positioned.
Doorways to the new build will be made at ground and first floor level in the stairwell – but boarded from the inside for security and safety.
Air source heating pipework and fans have been installed.
We are testing the installation of new heating trenches in the Inner Library.
The timber frame for the new build extension has been constructed off site.
Until the new build is completed, a temporary unisex lavatory is available in the front cloakroom.

2 – 27 October 2023

The Lancaster Room is now the site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door.
Doorways to the new build will be made at ground and first floor level in the stairwell – but boarded from the inside for security and safety.
Ground works for the new build including drainage, party wall repair, timber repair and installation of heating pipework are underway.
Piling work to support the new build takes place 9^th-11^th Oct (apologies for the noise levels in the libraries).
A concrete slab will be laid to create the footprint of the new extension.
The timber frame for the new build extension has been constructed off site.
We are testing the installation of new heating trenches in the Inner Library.
Our archaeology team continue their watching brief of the site, documenting any finds and advising the construction team. Some complete clay pipes have been found along with 13^th-19^th Century ceramic fragments.
Until the new build is completed, a temporary unisex lavatory is available in the front cloakroom.

18 – 29 September 2023

The Lancaster Room is now the site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door.
Demolition of the old boiler house and lavatory block are underway. Sorry for the noise while demolition takes place.
Until the new build is completed, a temporary unisex lavatory is available in the front cloakroom.
The timber frame for the new build extension has been constructed off site.
We are testing the installation of new heating trenches in the Inner Library
Connection of air source heat pump and testing of the boiler is underway.
Our archaeology team continue their watching brief of the site, documenting any finds and advising the construction team.

1 September – 15 September 2023

The Lancaster Room is now the site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door.
Our new electricity and gas supplies are being connected – sorry but we will be closed on Wednesday 6^th and Thursday 7^th September to accommodate this.
Removal of old concrete and excavation continues in the side courtyard for drainage trenches.
Demolition of the old boiler house and lavatory block commence. Until the new build is completed, there will be a temporary unisex lavatory available in the front cloakroom.
The timber frame for the new build extension is being constructed off site.
Our archaeology team continue their watching brief of the site, documenting any finds and advising the construction team.

8 August – 31 August 2023

The Lancaster Room is now the site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door.
The back kitchen is now our plant room, containing boilers, air source heat pump tank and electrical panels.
The front kitchen has been refitted to accommodate all appliances.
Our new water supply is being connected.
A door opening has been made where the external window was. The garden is still accessible.

20 July -28 July 2023

The Lancaster Room is now the site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door.
The back kitchen is being fitted as a plant room, containing boilers, air source heat pump tank and electrical panels – our new utilities will come in from the back of the building.
A door opening has been made where the external window was. The garden is still accessible.
The front kitchen is being refitted and will remain operational – lunch will continue Wednesdays.
The boiler house has been stripped and asbestos has been safely removed.
UV panels are being scoped for the roof

26 June – 17 July 2023

The Lancaster Room is now the site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door.
Our contractors are digging test pits in the side carriageway to locate services and remove redundant pipework and cabling before piling can begin. A temporary electrical supply will be installed.
We are installing a temporary lavatory in the ladies cloakroom, which is not yet in use. In due course, this will enable demolition of the old lavatory block.
The back kitchen has been stripped to make way for a plant room and our new utilities will come in from the back of the building. A door opening will be made where the external window is.

Week commencing 19 June 2023

The Lancaster Room is now the site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door.
We are replacing lead waterpipes in the side carriageway.
We are installing a temporary lavatory in the ladies cloakroom, which is not yet in use. In due course, this will enable demolition of the old lavatory block.
We are installing a temporary electricity supply to enable old cabling to be removed.
The back kitchen has been stripped to make way for a plant room and our new utilities will come in from the back of the building. A door opening will be made where the external window is.
The boiler house has been stripped and we are awaiting the results of an asbestos analysis before it is demolished.

Week commencing 12 June 2023

The Lancaster Room is now the site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door.
The back kitchen has been stripped to make way for a plant room and our new utilities will come in from the back of the building. A door opening will be made where the external window is.
We have a temporary kitchen arrangement for catering purposes before the front kitchen fit-out next week.
The boiler house has been stripped and we are awaiting the results of an asbestos analysis before it is demolished.
The temporary lavatory will be fitted in the ladies cloakroom, to enable demolition of the lavatory block.