Today (Tuesday, 23 June), councillors have agreed in principle to sell the former Mill Road Library to a local community group, paving the way for a new arts and cultural hub in the heart of Cambridge.
At a meeting of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Assets and Procurement Committee, councillors unanimously approved a near market value bid from Mill Road Library Community Interest Company (CIC), a group which represents local residents and stakeholders from across the city with an interest in arts and culture. Funding for the purchase will come from a private source.
The Grade II listed 19th Century building, located in central Cambridge, has been owned by the council since the 1970s. Following its closure as a library in 1996, it has been used for a range of temporary purposes, most recently undergoing restoration works which were completed in 2021. The property is currently vacant and has been declared surplus to the council’s operational requirements.
Mill Road Library CIC plans to transform the building into a community arts centre, offering a wide range of activities including performances, exhibitions, workshops, film screenings, and social programmes to deliver social impact across the city. Their vision also includes flexible creative workspaces and a café, alongside partnerships with local organisations and universities.
The bid has been independently assessed in line with the council’s disposal process, with consideration given to financial value as well as social, economic and environmental benefits. The proposal scored highly across all criteria, including deliverability.
As a registered Asset of Community Value (ACV), the building has been through a statutory process that gives community groups the chance to bid. While the council has a legal duty to get best consideration when selling property, it can also take into account the wider benefits for the community.
At the bidder’s request, the council will now extend an option to buy until 15 February 2027, allowing time for necessary preparatory work to be undertaken and the purchase to be completed.
Councillor Karen Young, Chair of the Assets and Procurement Committee, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to bring a much-loved historic building back into meaningful use. The proposal from Mill Road Library CIC reflects the strong community spirit of the area and sets out a sustainable vision that will benefit residents for years to come.
“Selling Mill Road Library to an impressive community bidder supports the council’s ambition to enable full, healthy lives for all by encouraging strong community ties. It will also generate funds which the council can reinvest in delivering frontline services.”
