Liverpool City Council is taking the next major step in the restoration of a landmark building in Everton, with specialist contractors appointed to assess the condition of the Grade II-listed building and develop a programme of repairs to secure its long-term future.
The council has already secured £250,000 to support the next phase of work, which will include detailed condition surveys, environmental assessments, asbestos investigations and plans to make the building weatherproof. The work will provide, for the first time in more than 20 years, a comprehensive understanding of the building’s condition and the investment required for its full restoration.
The surveys are expected to begin in September 2026, with findings anticipated later in the autumn. These investigations will examine as much of the building as possible, including structural condition, water damage, windows, roofs and other areas affected by decades of deterioration. In places that are currently unsafe to access, specialist assessment methods such as drone surveys will be used.
The work will also investigate environmental issues within the building, including the impact of long-term pigeon access and any other pest-related concerns. Environmental cleaning requirements and asbestos checks will form part of the assessment programme.
While the full extent of repairs will not be known until the surveys are complete, the council already expects future work to include repairs to gutters, drainpipes, windows, water-damaged areas and masonry, alongside measures to improve the building’s resistance to further weather damage.
Importantly, the project will provide the evidence needed to secure further investment and develop a long-term restoration strategy for one of Liverpool’s most significant historic buildings. The council’s ambition is to transform the former library into a vibrant heritage asset that serves the community while acting as a social, cultural and economic driver for the area.
The building is owned by Liverpool City Council and the restoration programme is being led by the council’s Heritage team.
Over the coming months residents can expect to see survey work taking place, followed by the development of a schedule of repair works and costs. The information gathered will help determine the scale of future weatherproofing and restoration works, as well as support applications for additional funding needed to secure the building’s long-term future.
Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, said: “For many years people have rightly been concerned about the condition of this building, which used to be a liberary, and want to see progress. This project marks the beginning of that process.
“Before we can undertake a full restoration, we need a detailed understanding of the condition of the building and the challenges we face. These surveys will give us the information we need to plan repairs, develop restoration proposals and secure the substantial funding that will ultimately be required.
“Our long-term vision is to bring the building back into use as a vibrant heritage asset that serves local people and acts as a social, cultural and economic catalyst for the wider area.
“The former library is one of the area’s most recognisable landmarks and many residents have strong memories and connections to the building.
“People want to know that progress is being made and that there is a clear plan for its future. The work now being commissioned is an important milestone because it will help us understand exactly what needs to be done to safeguard the building and bring it back into use.
“I know residents will welcome the fact that the council is now taking practical steps to move the restoration project forward.”
