27/09/07 - Cllr Tomlinson, New Central Library Wins BREEAM Award

Nick Newland, Architect & Cllr Rod Bluh

THE new Central Library has won a building award - 12 months before it opens its doors.

Work to create the new library, due to open next summer, has been going on since January.

Ever since the design stage those behind the project, run by Swindon Council, were under orders to make it as green as possible.

And now the eco-friendly design has landed a major award from the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. (BREEAM) "We are immensely proud of the team that has delivered this for us," said Rod Bluh, leader of Swindon Council.

"When we planned the library we made it clear that this building had to be sustainable to the highest level.

"But never in our wildest dreams did we imagine it would win an award like this.

"But winning gives us a huge opportunity to set the tone for sustainable building in Swindon.

"It will also attract national publicity and get the message out there that Swindon is about quality."

The decision to improve the library was taken more than two years ago.

As plans for the project were finalised they were sent to BREEAM, which judges new buildings on their eco-credentials.

The inspectors said the scheme was excellent', meaning it was automatically shortlisted for an award.

And last week the library, which won't open its doors until late summer next year, won this year's bespoke building award.

"Interest in the library has really grown in the last few weeks," said project manager Chris Green.

"People can now see it starting to emerge so it's catching people's eyes again.

"We're also doing some improvement works on the Town Hall because we didn't want people to see the new library and then the Town Hall is not looking up to scratch.

"So we're doing a few things to help the building age respectfully.

"Swindon has been waiting for this for 30 years and we believe it is the project which will kick-start the regeneration of Swindon.

"Our target is still to open the library in late summer - and that's what we'll achieve."

Cllr Justin Tomlinson, Lead Member for Leisure, Culture & Recreation, "Having led on this project from day one, I am delighted that we have won this award.  Upon taking control of Swindon Council in 2004 we made delivering the new Central Library our number one priority - for too long the former failed Labour Council short changed local residents with an unacceptable porta-cabin facility.  It is only the Conservatives who can lead investment and regeneration in Swindon."