Grade II Listed Library Reroof Gets Go Ahead

PLANNING permission has been granted to replace the roof of Kettering’s Grade II listed library and art gallery, known as Cornerstone.

The 120-year-old building had been damaged by three years of leaks, caused by crumbling old slates and rainwater getting into a new extension.

Grade II Listed Library Reroof

A mixture of new and reclaimed Collyweston slates will be used for the new roof, as advised by Historic England and conservation experts. Approval is also being sought from Natural England to confirm the bat protection measures in place are appropriate.

A contractor is expected to be appointed in early 2025 and physical work will be able to begin on site.

North Northamptonshire Council has published a video taking viewers behind the scenes of the project, including a look at the slate mining process and interviews with members of the team to show how plans are progressing.

Cllr Helen Howell, the council’s Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Sport, Leisure, Culture and Tourism, said: “This is a huge milestone for the roof replacement project, now we have the correct planning permission in place. This means that once a contractor has been appointed through a thorough and compliant tender process, physical work can start on site as soon as possible. With the contractor appointed, we will work with them to produce a full timeline for the works and residents can be assured that that timeline will be published, once it is agreed.

“In the meantime, we remain committed to being as transparent as possible and, as I have said previously, we are going through a full procurement exercise to ensure that the most suitable contractor completes the work for well within the budget we have set aside – a budget which is very much a worst-case scenario and includes a 20% contingency.”

Planning decision notices for the works can be found on the council’s planning portal here.

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