Decision on RSHP’s British Library extension set for next year

A decision on RSHP’s plans to extend the British Library could be announced within three months.

Camden council said the proposals to attach a 100,000 sq m office and library block to the north of Colin Wilson and MJ Long’s grade I-listed landmark could be presented to the planning committee as soon as next January.

A revised planning application for the scheme was submitted in March and would see the demolition of buildings to the north of the library including the 2007 British Library Centre for Conservation, designed by Long & Kentish.

The replacement 12-storey building would contain just 10,000 sq m of library space, including a link to the main library and new headquarters for the Alan Turing Institute.

The upper floors would contain 76,000 sq m of office space aimed at life sciences tenants wanting proximity to the area’s emerging Knowledge Quarter.

The developers, a JV between Stanhope and Mitsui Fudosan, secured the site by agreeing a deal with Transport for London which will see them build 5,000 sq m of shafts and passageways descending seven storeys beneath the extension for Crossrail 2.

The work for the mothballed railway, which would be carried out in case the project is revived, will include the main civils and structural elements of the Euston St Pancras Station eastern shaft and passenger subway tunnel.

Others working on the project include Arup and public realm architect DSDHA.