Historic Burley Library building is to be converted into an innovative co-working space, with 60 flats built behind it.
Grade II-listed Burley Library in Cardigan Road will be converted into a work hub office, and a five storey extension containing 60 one bedroom and studio flats will be built behind it after Leeds CIty Council gave the plans the go ahead.
There will also be five large communal kitchens.
The shared work and homes complex will be aimed at young professionals who will both live and work in the building. It will be built by ParkLane Properties and be pen to the wider community to use.
A planning statement on behalf of the developers said:
“The library building is to largely serve as a new co-working, training and enterprise hub, serving the buildings residents and will be available to the local community.
“It is proposed this facility will support and encourage local entrepreneurs and freelancers to work more collectively through the nature of the facilities. “It will also offer accredited training provision for apprentices and residents.”
Read the plans in full here.
History
Burley Branch Library was designed by Gilbert Burdett Howcroft of Uppermill and was opened on 15 June 1926 by Alderman Sir Percy Jackson, Chairman of the West Riding Education Committee, and a trustee of the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust.
The library cost £8,338 to build, with most of the funding coming from the Carnegie Trust and the rest from Leeds Council.
The building, which dates back to 1926, closed in February 2016 due to ‘health and safety reasons’. It was sold to ParkLane in October that year.
As reported by The Dispatch, the building gained protected Grade II Listed status in June 2017.
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