An Edinburgh library is to be demolished and replaced with a brand new one and nursery in a contract worth £2.8million.
The Ratho library, on School Wynd, is currently closed and in 2020, plans were proposed for the demolition of the building to make way for a modern library and early years education centre.
A contract has finally been awarded by the City of Edinburgh Council to Clark Contracts to deliver the project which was due to start at the end of September and be completed in exactly a year on September 23, 2023.
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The overall cost of contract is £2,892,121 and associated landscaping and an outdoor play area is also included as part of the plans for the suburb on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
In January 2020, a design statement as part of the plans read: "The proposed library has the same public floor area as the existing library (existing 101 sqm, proposed 103 sqm). The existing Ratho Library is a vital and popular community space and resource for local people.
"The new Ratho Library and Nursery is a fantastic opportunity to build upon this success by having beautiful, well designed, flexible spaces, increased in size by the community room: the library will be a special third space between work and home for people of all ages.
"The contact with early years expands opportunities to bring reading for pleasure and learning to babies and toddlers and their families. The synergy of early years and library will further enhance the role of the library as a vital community space for Ratho."
CGI images uploaded at the time also show the slick and modern design of the new nursery and library. The statement continued: "The proposal is to be a single-story building with nursery and library accommodation with a shared entrance. The library is positioned close to the entrance with shared ancillary accommodation grouped together and positioned centrally.
"The nursery classes are partially stepped back to create sheltered access to the north external playground. The building has a raked roof form which, in terms of massing, allows the principle entrance and nursery access to be expressed and creates a clerestory level through which natural light and ventilation can be introduced to deeper parts of the floor plan."
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