Plans to demolish Crewe's former library have been recommended for approval – with extra measures planned to ensure work does not disrupt proceedings at the nearby law courts.

Cheshire East Council wants to dismantle the library and the existing raised concrete deck between the library and Crewe Magistrates' Court.

The former library, which has been vacant since 2016, is to be replaced by Crewe History Centre - which will house the Cheshire archives.

View Of Proposed History Centre In Crewe From Memorial Square (Elliswilliams).

A new contemporary entrance to the law courts is proposed - with a smaller replacement public car park to be provided on the eastern part of the former civic centre car park.

The application will be considered at Cheshire East's meeting of the southern planning committee on Wednesday 15 March.

A separate application for the proposed history centre will also be considered at the same meeting.

The proposals are part of a Cheshire-wide project, 'Cheshire's Archives: a story shared', which is being funded by Cheshire East Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Both applications will be considered at Cheshire East's meeting of the southern planning committee on Wednesday 15 March (Cheshire East Planning).

This purpose-built history centre would provide a climate controlled environment to preserve and display the local archival materials

It would also provide space for events and exhibitions, research and a café.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), while supportive of the scheme, has raised concerns regarding the impact on the court operation during construction.

In a letter to the council's planners, HMCTS states: "Any disturbance or disruption from external activity, particularly significant external noise, is likely to interfere with evidence being given in the many cases that the court hears.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), has raised concerns regarding the impact on Crewe Magistrates' Court operation during construction (Ryan Parker).

"This would lead to adjournments and delays to cases and have a detrimental impact on HMCTS performance and those that use the court building."

Cheshire East's planning officer says the council has been liaising with HMCTS since September 2021 and measures will be taken to mitigate the impact on the Magistrates' Court.

The re-development of the library site at Prince Albert Street will be delivered in two phases.

Phase one will be the demolition, ground remodelling, the provision of the re-configured car park and eastern part of the public realm and the new entrance to the law courts.

The re-development of the library and Civic Centre Car Park site will be delivered in two phases (Ryan Parker).

Phase two will entail the development of the new history centre building and the remaining western area of public realm.

Five people have objected to the application.

They say there was inadequate public consultation and 'no serious consideration was given to re-purposing, or altering, this award-winning landmark building'.

In a report to Wednesday's meeting, the planning officer says an application [by objectors] to have the library listed was rejected with Historic England.

The Cheshire East planning officer said the existing library building could not be re-purposed for the proposed history centre (Ben Wye).

They concluded: "The standard, functional design of the late 1960s former library in Crewe means that it lacks special architectural and historic interest to merit listing in a national context."

The planning officer also said the existing building could not be re-purposed for the proposed history centre.

They added: "This is principally due to a series of technical considerations, including significant structural issues and required need for airtightness, given the specific needs for an archive facility, which cannot be achieved through a retrofit of the existing library building."

The application also includes a two storey extension to the western façade of the law courts building to allow access to the existing entrance at first floor following the removal of the raised concourse deck as part of the wider public realm project.

The current 89-space Civic Centre Car Park will be replaced with a new public car park of 32 spaces - including four spaces for disabled persons (Ryan Parker).

Crewe's current 89-space Civic Centre Car Park will be replaced with a new public car park of 32 spaces including four spaces for disabled persons.

The planning officer says there are sufficient spaces on other car parks to make up for this loss.

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