Community groups are again invited to express interest in the former Mill Road Library building after the withdrawal of the preferred bidder.
Mill Road Library, a Grade II listed, 19th Century building in central Cambridge, with huge character, has been owned by Cambridgeshire County Council since the 1970s.
Following closure of the library in 1996, the building was subsequently leased to an Indian Community and Cultural Association until 2019 and then let on a temporary basis to Hill Group for office and welfare use until February 2023.
The former library is a registered Asset of Community Value (ACV) and is currently under a six-month moratorium period, during which the council would only be permitted to sell to a qualifying community group.
Love Mill Road, a local community group, is organising a public meeting at Mill Road Community Centre on Wednesday, 15 October, to explore ideas for the building’s future and the council would encourage any interested residents and community groups to attend and contribute to this meeting.
The council has received notice of a qualifying community group’s intention to bid on the building and would welcome any other interested community groups to also come forward.
Community groups will need to demonstrate the benefits to the community of their proposal alongside providing proof of access to the required funds both to buy this listed building and then subsequently maintain it appropriately.
The council is not currently marketing the building in the open market. Any viable offers received from community groups will be considered and discussed at the January meeting of the Assets & Procurement Committee, with councillors reviewing not only the financial bid made but also whether the offer delivers environmental and social benefits.
Cllr Karen Young, Chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Assets and Procurement Committee, added: “While it’s not ideal that the previous preferred bidder has withdrawn, this is an exciting opportunity to find the best use for this iconic building.
“We’re firmly resolved that any decisions on the future use of the building will continue to be subject to environmental and social considerations, as well as the financial offer made.
“I would ask all community groups that might be interested in becoming the future guardian for this listed building to please get in touch as soon as possible, using the email address: emu@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.”
Interested and qualifying community groups are asked to make direct contact with Cambridgeshire County Council to discuss their proposals and potential offer in the first instance. More detail on what is expected from a bid will be provided by officers from the Communities and Property teams during an individual meeting with the interested parties.
As a registered ACV, the sale of Mill Road Library is subject to a detailed process which gives local community groups the opportunity to bid on the property.
Cambridge City Council administer the ACV process and were advised of the county council’s intention to dispose of the property on 18 August 2025. The city council notified the nominating community group, as well as other qualifying community groups as defined by the Localism Act 2011, and a full moratorium period was triggered. This means that the county council cannot sell Mill Road Library to a non-community group in this period, which runs until 16 February 2026.
The ACV designation does not determine who can buy the building, or the price that would be paid – the county council is legally bound to obtain what is known as ‘best consideration’ for all building sales.
More information on the ACV process : Right to Bid scheme: Assets of community value - Cambridge City Council
Cambridge City Council can advise any group that is unsure whether they qualify to bid under the ACV criteria: right-to-bid@cambridge.gov.uk
