Hampshire County Council Item 6
Asset Management Sub-Committee
2 March 2000
Lymington Library and Register Office
Report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory
Services
Contact: Andrew Smith, (01962) 847826
1. Introduction
1.1 At the 24 June 1999 meeting of the Land Sub-Committee Members approved a
building feasibility project appraisal for a scheme to construct a new
public library, with office accommodation for the Divisional Library
Headquarters, and to refurbish an existing building on the same site in
Cannon Street, Lymington to provide a Register Office.
1.2 Since that meeting the detailed design work has been progressed and the
purpose of this report is to outline the design proposals and funding
position to Members of this Committee and seek their approval to the
attached building design project appraisal.
2. Phasing Strategy
2.1 The attached scheme drawings represent the total planned development of
the Cannon Street site. It is intended to implement the design in a
series of phases. The first phase will comprise the construction of the
new public library and Divisional HQ accommodation. Once this is
completed it will allow the existing building on site, currently
occupied by Divisional Library HQ staff, to be vacated and a contract
undertaken to convert this to a Register Office in a second phase. The
landscaping and external works will also be phased to ensure that
appropriate contractors and public access is maintained and also to
ensure that the work can be tailored to the level of funding available.
3. Scope of the Works
3.1 New Library
A new public library will be built into the bank along the western
boundary of the site, adjacent to the existing building. The new
building will provide open plan office space for the Divisional Library
Headquarters staff and a new public library with associated office
accommodation.
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3.2 The public library will provide areas for children, adults, and IT as
well as a reference section and main reception desk / booking out area.
Office accommodation, staffroom, workroom, stores and WC's will be
provided within the new building for use by the Library staff and
Divisional Library HQ staff. The public entrance to the public library
will be located on the corner of the building from North Close. A
separate entrance will be created to the north western corner of the
building for the Divisional Library HQ staff and for loading and
deliveries.
3.3 Register Office
This facility will be located in the existing building on the site. The
former school building is currently occupied by the Divisional Library
HQ. This operation will move from its existing building to the new
library building, vacating it for use by the Registration Service. The
majority of the work will comprise the internal rationalisation and
reorganisation of the existing building to convert it to suitable
accommodation for use by the Registration Service. It is proposed that
the modified building will provide two marriage rooms and a waiting
room, three registrar offices, births/deaths waiting room, strong room,
reception area, disabled WC's and staff facilities. A new lobby and
entrance will be formed to the Cannon Street frontage to give a clear
and distinct entrance to the building.
3.4 During this process the Registration Service will operate from Ringwood.
Once the building in Lymington is refurbished this will allow the
Ringwood premises to be upgraded.
4. Funding and Timing
4.1 An allocation of £862,000, exclusive of fees, is included in the Policy
and Resources Committee's 1999/00 Capital Programme for the building
work outlined in this appraisal. The Director of Property, Business and
Regulatory Services is currently preparing a detailed elemental cost
plan for the building work associated with this project. It should be
noted that the current funding will cover the costs of building the
library and Divisional HQ building (phase 1). It is intended to develop
a strategy for funding the Register Office and associated external works
in parallel with building the library in order to maximise the
opportunity of an early start to a cash limited scheme. The current
cost estimate excludes any fit-out costs for the library which is
currently estimated to be in the region of £100,000.
4.2 It is anticipated that phase 1 will commence on site during the summer
of 2000 and be completed during the spring of 2001. Levels of fitting
out and timing of the transfer of staff into the new building will be
further developed in conjunction with the County Librarian.
4.3 It is anticipated that conversion works to the existing building would
take some 4 to 6 months depending on the final scope, specification and
procurement work.
Recommendations:
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1. That the report be noted.
2. That, subject to the approval of the Policy and Resources
Committee to the carry forward of the scheme to the Policy and
Resources Committee's 2000/01 Capital Programme, the attached
building design project appraisal for the Lymington Library and
Register Office scheme be approved.