Plans progress for potential major refurbishment of Ipswich County Library

By James Powell | September 10, 2025

If successful, the project would involve substantial improvements on the main public areas of the library on the ground and first floors.

Suffolk Community Libraries has already had confirmed funding for part of the project from The Wolfson Foundation. As the library is a Grade 2 listed building, the next stage is to submit a planning application to Ipswich Borough Council for the proposed work. Suffolk County Council are hoping to make an additional larger bid to contribute to the costs of the project.

A decision on the current planning application is due by the end of September with funding decisions being confirmed next year.

If all planning and funding applications are successful, the project would transform the county’s biggest library which marked its 100-year anniversary last year. The work would start around the end of 2026 at the earliest and would take about three months.

The overall aim would be to create a dynamic new space to meet the evolving needs of the local community.

The plans for the library’s ground floor include:

• A new flexible hireable community space and gallery, and refurbished café area
• A new children’s library area with a makerspace to inspire children and young people’s creativity
• ‘Library of Things’ lockers offering useful items people can borrow
• A new foyer and accessible toilets

The plan for the first floor include:

• A new hireable makerspace co-designed with learning disabled artists
• A digital learning hub
• Another hireable space for community groups
• Refurbished toilets

There would also be a gallery wall as you climb the library stairs, celebrating the building’s 100 years through archive images and art.

Charmain Osborne is Executive Library Manager for Ipswich County Library. She said:

“Ipswich County Library is a beautiful heritage building steeped in local history. This is a very ambitious and exciting project to give Ipswich County Library the TLC it deserves, and to update the building for our local community. Last year we celebrated 100 years of the library and its massive contribution to local life.
 
“This project aims to celebrate the evolving role of libraries in our community whilst also honouring its history. We hope to be able to create a more flexible and dynamic library space for everyone to enjoy for many more years to come.”

Cllr Philip Faircloth-Mutton, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for environment, communities and equality, added:

“I’m very pleased to see this project progressing which could potentially see one of our biggest libraries significantly improved and modernised for the benefit of the many people in Ipswich who use this vital community space.”