The British Library has confirmed plans for a massive £1.1 billion extension of its St Pancras site, expected to be completed by 2032. Japanese company Mitsui Fudosan UK, through its wholly-owned subsidiary SMBL, has committed to funding the ambitious project, representing what they believe to be “one of the largest single real estate investments into London by a Japanese company to date.”
Enhanced Visitor Experience
The development aims to welcome “hundreds of thousands more people a year” to the library, transforming it into a major tourist destination. Visitors will benefit from:
- New exhibition galleries doubling the current display space, enabling greater interaction with the national collection
- A redesigned full-height foyer with multiple new public entrances across three sides of the building
- A brand-new learning centre providing enhanced educational experiences for visitors of all ages, including an expanded offering for families
- Improved accessibility with new routes connecting Somers Town and St Pancras
- Additional event spaces available for public use
- New green spaces and outdoor seating areas
Rebecca Lawrence, Chief Executive of the British Library, emphasized that the project will “open up the Library even further,” creating “an expanded national library with state-of-the-art new spaces” that will “welcome future generations of visitors, learners, researchers and budding entrepreneurs.”
Transformational New Spaces
The development will add 700,000 sq ft (65,090 sq m) of new library, learning, research and commercial space to the iconic Kings Cross landmark. Approximately 100,000 sq ft (9,290 sq m) will be dedicated to new public areas.
The extension will feature a multi-use foyer space “open to all,” with event spaces available for local businesses and the community. Visitors will be able to explore the building through additional new entrances specifically designed to welcome everyone to “come in and explore.”
Connecting Communities
The plans, designed by architects RSHP and engineers Arup, will open up the Library across three sides, creating new publicly accessible areas and routes connecting it to Somers Town and St Pancras. This includes new entrances on Midland Road and Ossulston Street.
Takeshi Iwama, Chief Executive of Mitsui Fudosan UK, stated that the company is “proud to be investing in the expansion of one of the UK’s most important cultural institutions,” emphasizing their commitment to ensuring benefits are experienced at the local level as well as nationally and internationally.
Community Benefits
The development will provide significant benefits for the local community, including:
- A £23 million contribution towards affordable housing in Somers Town
- 35 new homes
- ‘Incubator desks’ within the library’s new business spaces, with 10% free to use by Camden residents
- A new community garden on Ossulston Street co-designed and managed by local people
- Infrastructure improvements including extra cycle docking, highways and paths
The project will also safeguard underground space for a potential future Crossrail 2 station.
Commercial Science Hub
Beyond expanding the library’s cultural offerings, the development aims to create a globally significant hub for commercial science and innovation. Mitsui Fudosan plans to leverage its expertise in the life sciences sector from Japan and the US to attract global companies to the heart of London’s Knowledge Quarter.
Culture, Science and Technology Minister Sir Chris Bryant praised the development, saying it will help “encourage investment in this vital sector in the UK.”
The developers have confirmed they believe the project can be delivered with “minimum impact” on library services and the surrounding area. The next stage will involve finalizing detailed designs before construction begins.
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