Liverpool City Council is moving ahead with the restoration of Everton Library, with specialist contractors appointed to assess the condition of the historic building and develop a programme of repairs.
The council has secured £250,000 for the next phase of work at the Grade II-listed former library, which will include detailed condition surveys, environmental assessments, asbestos investigations and plans to make the building weatherproof.
The work is expected to provide the most comprehensive assessment of the building’s condition in more than 20 years and establish the level of investment needed for its full restoration.
Surveys are due to begin in September 2026, with the findings expected later in the autumn.
Specialists will examine as much of the building as possible, looking at its structural condition as well as water damage, windows, roofs and other areas affected by decades of deterioration.
Where parts of the building are considered unsafe to enter, alternative methods including drone surveys will be used to assess their condition.
Environmental issues will also form part of the investigations, including the impact of long-term pigeon access and any other pest-related problems within the building.
The programme will consider the environmental cleaning required and include checks for asbestos.
Although the full scale of the repairs will not become clear until the surveys have been completed, Liverpool City Council expects future work to include repairs to gutters, drainpipes, windows, masonry and areas affected by water damage.
Measures to improve the building’s protection against further weather damage are also expected to form an important part of the programme.
The findings will allow the council to draw up a detailed schedule of repairs and costs while providing the evidence required to seek further investment for the building.
The long-term ambition is to restore the former library as a vibrant heritage asset serving the local community and supporting the social, cultural and economic regeneration of Everton.
Liverpool City Council owns the building, with the restoration programme being led by its Heritage team.
Residents can expect to see survey work taking place over the coming months before a full schedule of potential repairs and associated costs is developed.
The information gathered will determine the scale of future weatherproofing and restoration work and support applications for further funding needed to secure Everton Library’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.”
