Wilkinson Eyre designs will open up Giles Gilbert Scott’s ’book fortress’ to the public

Oxford University has won planning permission for the £78m restoration of the New Bodleian Library.

The project, designed by Wilkinson Eyre, will create exhibition spaces, library storage and research facilities. The library was designed originally by Giles Gilbert Scott in the 1930s and was known as the ’book fortress’.

The project is scheduled to complete in 2014/2015 and will be known as the Weston Library when it opens. Work will start in 2011 once 3.5 million books have been temporarily removed.

A contractor is yet to be appointed.