Southwark Council has moved forward with its plans to develop a library in Canada Water after signing a £13.7m construction contract with ISG Jackson this week.

The library, designed by Piers Gough, partner at CZWG Architects, will comprise around 34,000 sq ft and resembles an inverted pyramid that partly overhangs the Canada Water basin.

The project is due to commence in the summer, with completion scheduled for early 2011.

The library will sit at the edge of a new civic plaza which has been designed to allow for a farmers market, large TV screenings, festivals and a host of other events and activities.

Together they will form part of a new town centre for Canada Water, which includes approximately 900 new homes, new retail and public space. The Canada town centre is being developed and masterplanned by British Land Canada Quays a 50:50 joint venture company between UK REIT British Land and Canada Quays.

The first phase of residential homes is being developed by Barratt London and is already under construction.

Cllr Paul Noblet, Southwark Council’s executive member for regeneration, said: ‘The Canada Water development will see the area’s population grow, and residents, new and old, need a new library with a huge collection, study space, homework clubs, Reading groups, story sessions for very young children, author appearances and continuous promotions and events.

‘Even more exciting is that this fantastic library will be at the heart of a buzzing town centre with a range of community facilities for 21st century living. Residents will easily find a range of council and community services, delivered via a building that reflects Southwark’s commitment to providing essential public buildings without sacrificing exciting and innovative design.’

As part of the project, ISG Jackson will incorporate one of the existing exits to Canada Water station into the new building, creating a new thoroughfare.

David Taylor, chairman at BL Canada Quays, said: ‘Commencement of the library will be a massive milestone in terms of delivering the Canada Water masterplan. BL Canada Quays promised the local community a high quality mixed use scheme which would benefit both existing and new residents.

'The library is a major building block in terms of achieving that objective.'

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