The Grade II listed building will close for construction in 2028 before reopening with step-free access and new public spaces.
Manchester’s Portico Library has been awarded £6.4m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to restore and expand its historic building, with work expected to begin in 2028.
The funding will allow the ground floor and basement to be brought back into use, extending the library beyond its first-floor space for the first time in a century.
What’s more, the scheme will also introduce step-free access throughout the building, a new bookshop dedicated to Northern writers and publishers and a kitchen celebrating Manchester’s food culture.
Dr Thom Keep, librarian and chief executive of the Portico Library, said: ‘This is a landmark moment in the Portico’s rich and complex history and a huge achievement for our staff, trustees, volunteers and partners.
‘We have listened to thousands of people about what the Portico could become, and their ideas and experiences have helped shape these plans. Our ambition is a library that belongs to the whole city: a place to discover remarkable collections, question the stories we have inherited, and create new possibilities together.’
The library is continuing to raise funds to meet the remaining costs of the project and support its work during construction, following the £6.4m grant.
Building work and accessibility
The plans, drawn up by architectural firm Purcell, include repairs to the building and restoration of its historic interiors and glazed dome.
A lift and new facilities, including a Changing Places toilet and quiet room, are also in the works.
The entrance on Mosley Street will be reinstated to provide step-free access, while a new feature known as the Portico LightBox will link the ground floor, first floor and dome.
Low carbon heating and other measures to improve the building’s energy efficiency are also included in the plans.
Lucy Powell, Secretary of State for Education and MP for Manchester Central, said: ‘For more than two centuries, the Portico Library has stood at the heart of Manchester as a home for books, learning and new ideas.
‘This support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reunite one of our city’s great historic buildings, open it fully to everyone and secure its remarkable collections for the future.’
When will the library reopen?
Manchester City Council has approved the plans, with the library due to close in spring 2028 while the work is completed. It is estimated to reopen in March 2030.
During the closure, its collections and events will move to temporary locations and community venues, as well as being made available through the Porti-Go! programme.
Image: Purcell
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