Proposed relocation of Farnworth Library - Consultations

Have your say on Bolton Council's proposal to relocate Farnworth Library

Farnworth Library was opened in 1911 and is a Grade II listed building. Currently, the library is outside of the town centre and the space is not flexible. The building is in poor condition with significant water damage to the roof, causing internal damp. Bolton Council is now proposing to relocate Farnworth Library to a new, fully accessible site, which will provide a space for visitors that is modern, accessible and friendly.

The proposal for Farnworth Library aligns with Bolton Council’s Cultural Strategy by developing cultural assets and Bolton’s Vision to address inequalities and improve health.

Where will the proposed library location be?

Farnworth town centre has been proposed for the relocation of the library, as it is undergoing a £20m long-term redevelopment programme. The new library would be located at Rivington Building, Farnworth Green.

The proposed location aims to redevelop the library into a purpose-built community hub sitting in the centre of Farnworth town centre development in Farnworth Green, which was funded by the Future High Street Fund.

What will the new library look like?

The library at Farnworth Green will provide a transformative experience for visitors. Book borrowing, informational services and access to digital will remain a central focus and will be made more accessible to other community facilities. The proposal will include a Farnworth history exhibition which will tell the story of the town and its people. There will also be an imaginative children's library and an improved digital offer. It will also link into the outdoor performance areas and events spaces.

Please view our concent designs for the proposal. 

Learning from similar library relocations

In 2022, we completed a project to move Little Lever Library to a newly built site co-located with a health centre to reflect the current community’s needs. Following the successful reopening of the new library, visitor figures increased by 149% and users have described the facility as being:

• “Little Lever Library is lovely & bright”.
• “Little Lever library is well thought out, very accessible”.
• “Little Lever library always looks nice and service users at the hospital like to access it, as it's accessible. It's a great development”.
• “Little Lever library is an excellent building”.

The redevelopment of Farnworth Library would take a similar approach to Little Lever Library, by purposefully co-designing a space that provides a transformational, rather than transactional, experience to visitors.

Additional information

Please view our Frequently Asked Questions document prior to completing the survey. 

Survey

Consultation events

The team will be undertaking three consultation events where you can find out more about the proposal.

• 2pm - 7pm 19th August - Farnworth Library TBC*
• 2pm - 7 pm 4th September - Farnworth Green (Town Centre)
• 10am - 2pm 6th September - Farnworth Green (Town Centre)

*Includes a free art exhibition at the Farnworth Green site.

Survey support

If you require a paper copy of the survey or would like support to complete the survey, please contact the consultation team on 01204 334875, leaving your name, address and telephone number and the name of the consultation you are interested in, ‘Farnworth Library’. You can also access paper copies of the survey at Farnworth Library and at the Farnworth Green drop-in events.