Community Library has its future secured

The South Chingford Community Library has been at the heart of its community for many years. It offers something for all the community: as well as book-lending, you can come to a toddlers’ rhyme time or poetry reading group, receive employment advice, and much more.

Since the new owner of the building indicated they wanted to use the building for commercial purposes and increase the rent, we’ve been working with the Library’s trustees to find it a secure venue which would serve them and their communities for years to come. In October 2025, we signed an agreement for the Library to take over a Council-owned site two minutes up the road.

The resident and business community have rallied with the council to keep this vital volunteer-run organisation thriving. Designs for the new space have been created and the trustees have received expert advice and support from the council’s property team. The council’s Social Value team have worked with local developers to support the new building’s fit-out which allows the Library volunteers to design the library from scratch to suit their needs.

The Library has also been officially designated as a Voluntary and Community Sector organisation, giving it access to significant rent reduction in its new space.

Throughout it all, the volunteers running the library and its loyal users have kept the space going, creating opportunities for the people of South Chingford and beyond. 

Richard Ashen, Trustee Chairman at South Chingford Community Library, said:

We've been in this location now since 2012. We've gradually built things up over here. But now this building is going to be redeveloped so we have to move elsewhere. But we're delighted that the council found us a new place to go to up in Old Church Road - the building with a mural on the side. It's an exciting opportunity for us because we're going to be able to design our own library exactly as we'd like to do it. 

Cllr Ros Doré, Cabinet Member for Culture, Libraries, Sport and Leisure, said:

This volunteer-run community library is an amazing resource in South Chingford, from Toddler Rhyme Time to Steps Into Work to the poetry reading group and, of course, being able to borrow books. By next summer, we'll be in our new home just up the road, but will still be very much part of the South Chingford community. 

A massive thank you to Richard, the incredible volunteers at the library, our loyal community members, and to the council staff who've worked really hard together to secure the future of our South Chingford Community Library.