New, bigger and better library on the cards for Banbury
Read on Oxfordshire County Council’s website, or below:
Residents will be able to enjoy a brand new state of the art library in the heart of Banbury later next year, following an agreement between Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council to relocate the town’s library to Castle Quay Shopping Centre.
The new site will allow for a larger, more accessible, and modern library in a central location that better meets the needs of the community and the growing local population.
Following works to the site, the new library is expected to welcome the public in its new home at Castle Quay, by the end of 2027.
Councillor Neil Fawcett, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Libraries are more than just a place to borrow books. They are community spaces that play a vital role in helping people in everyday life from getting information and support to a place to socialise
“The relocation will transform our library provision in Banbury with massively improved facilities, including better digital resources, flexible study areas, and dedicated spaces for community events. The new library, which will be more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, will also be designed with accessibility in mind, ensuring that all residents can benefit from its services.”
Councillor David Hingley, Leader of Cherwell District Council, said: “As a big supporter of libraries and their vital role in our communities, I’m delighted to be welcoming Banbury library into Castle Quay. This will provide a larger, more modern space that places the library in the heart of Banbury, which will be a significant cultural investment in our town centre and for our residents to be able to enjoy all the benefits a contemporary library provides.
“Through previous engagement residents have shown support for improving and regenerating Banbury town centre, and the library relocation forms an exciting part of our upcoming plans.
“In its new, central location, the library will add to the cultural vibrancy of the town as a hub for education, leisure and social connection. This move reflects our commitment to Castle Quay as a multi-use, community destination and to ensuring Banbury thrives as a place where people want to live, work and visit.”
The news forms part of an ongoing project to update Oxfordshire’s libraries, with a number of other local communities already benefitting from upgrades to modernise and improve accessibility.