'Fantastic' new Plumstead Centre to open its doors for first time in February

The Grade 11 listed building used to house the old Plumstead library, but has undergone a Greenwich Council-led 15-month refurbishment to create a new, modernised library as well as expanding to include a leisure centre, community rooms and a cafe.

The newly-titled Plumstead Centre, which did see costs rise to £16.6m during the project, will now open its doors for the first time on Monday, February 10, just to library customers at first.

Plumstead Library has been temporarily housed on part of the Abbey Street car park since August 2018 to ensure children and residents still had access to library services during the renovation.

This will now close at the end of the working day on Friday, February 7, with all the equipment and books being boxed and transported over to the Plumstead Centre, titled due to its position in the heart of the community."

Miranda Williams, cabinet member for culture, leisure and the third sector, said they were "very excited" to move back to the original building with minimal operation.

"The new Plumstead Centre looks amazing and there are a wide range of enhanced facilities for people of all ages. I’m confident it’s going to be a hit with residents.”

The other areas of the centre, the leisure centre and the social hubs and community rooms, will be open to the public from the 17 February, and there will be a grand opening on Saturday February 29.

Any library items due back on these moving days will be carried over until Monday, so there will be no fines for not returning items due back on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 February.

Councillor Sizwe James, cabinet member for regeneration and growth, commented: “The Plumstead Centre represents a fantastic a multi-million-pound investment by the Royal Borough of Greenwich in a state-of-the-art community hub.

"I can’t wait for residents to come and see the new facility and check out what’s on offer in Plumstead.”

The Plumstead Library and Leisure Centre is a result of a sensitive refurbishment of the listed building and a new contemporary extension, combining the library, leisure and cultural facilities all under one roof.

The council says the new library has been build in a manner "befitting the historic status of the building," as well as installing more modern facilities.

The building also houses a state-of-the-art gym plus fitness studios, sports, leisure and cultural spaces and a soft play facility for young families.