A brand-new image which shows the initial concept for a major city centre library was revealed by Stoke-on-Trent City Council yesterday. 

Plans to redevelop City Central Library, in Hanley, include 96 one and two-bedroom apartments, a gym and nursery facilities. 

It is also hoped that the £1.3 million site will be able to host a restaurant and other leisure facilities, subject to planning approval. 

The vision – showing what City Central Library could eventually look like - was revealed yesterday (14 March) at MIPIM, the annual global real estate conference in France.

The plans for City Central Library were revealed yesterday at a conference in France (Stoke-on-Trent City Council).

Stoke-on-Trent City Council Leader, Councillor Abi Brown, said: "Our vision to transform City Central Library builds on the huge success of our other recent developments in the city, such as the Clayworks apartments scheme and the fantastic Spitfire Gallery at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery. 

"We have worked hard over the last few years to create the right infrastructure to support the regeneration of the city centre and put Stoke-on-Trent on the map as a place to live, work and visit.

"These latest plans further our commitment and reinforce our ability to entice major developers, businesses and organisations to our small but mighty city."

As part of the redevelopment, library services will be relocated to a new home inside the neighbouring Two Smithfield building.

The £1.5 million investment from Stoke-on-Trent City Council will see the creation of a new computer suite, a dedicated children's area, public toilets and a new mezzanine floor to provide extra space. 

The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery was also recently developed and now has a Spitfire Gallery (Sarah Garner).

This comes as work is ongoing to move the city's archives service from City Central Library to the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery - bringing the archives and museum services under one roof for the first time.

The project will include the creation of a new archives store and a brand-new reading room, which visitors can use to read and research items from the archives.  

The new archives space and new-look library is expected to open in the Autumn.

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