ABK’s library is one of country’s most significant, say campaigners

The Twentieth Century Society has resubmitted ABK’s Redcar Library for listing, just two months after the architecture minister rejected English Heritage’s recommendation that it be granted grade II protection.

Senior caseworker Jon Wright believes he has found new evidence of the 1970s building’s historical significance including the fact that it was the practice’s first venture into steel.

Its only other public library, a slightly later building in Maidenhead, was listed in 2003, when it was barely 30 years old.

“This is without question one of the most significant post-war libraries nationally,” he said of Redcar.

“In an exemplary report, English Heritage strongly recommended it for listing and they don’t do that lightly.”

But John Penrose, the architecture minister, over-ruled EH, paving the way for the library’s demolition.

Earlier this month Redcar Cleveland Council approved a replacement £31 million leisure development.

The Twentieth Century Society’s regional representative, Karen Topping, made a last-ditch effort to persuade the planning committee it would be bulldozing an important heritage asset.

But councillors disagreed, arguing that an appeal should have been lodged within 28 days of the minister’s decision.

However, Wright told BD he had to wait for the result of a Freedom of Information application to the Department of Culture (DCMS) before he could respond.

The DCMS rejected his request for a short extension while he waited for the department to supply the requested documents – which included an error-strewn report commissioned by the council

“How on earth can you properly assess and fight a case if you don’t know what the other side has said about the building?” he said.

“In the past they have always said yes when we have requested such an extension. It seems this is a worrying new era.”