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# Council admits delays to work on new Lichfield Library after tearing up deal with building contractor
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/council-admits-delays-to-work-on-new-lichfield-library-after-tearing-up-deal-with-building-contractor/
- Published: 2018-07-20T08:09:37.000Z
- Updated: 2018-07-20T08:13:50.000Z
- Description: Council bosses have admitted that work on Lichfield’s new library has been delayed – but insist it will still finish this year.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Heritage, Politics, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 18:23, News

Council bosses have admitted that work on Lichfield’s new library has been delayed – but insist it will still finish this year.

[![An artist's impression of the new interior of St Mary's in the Market Square](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/library.jpg)](//lichfieldlive.co.uk/2017/02/06/plans-submitted-to-transform-st-marys-in-the-market-square-into-the-new-lichfield-library/library-3/)

An artist’s impression of the new interior of St Mary’s in the Market Square

The timeframes around the £1.2million project to convert St Mary’s in the Market Square to become the library’s new home have slipped after the decision was taken to terminate the contract with Heritage Building and Conservation.

Staffordshire County Council said the deal was torn up due to “non-performance” – with [the company going into administration](https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/10361652?ref=lichfieldlive.co.uk) in May.

But the work has now been picked up by Croft Building and Conservation Ltd.

Gill Heath, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member responsible for libraries, said: “Unfortunately this interruption has delayed the project and the building conversion work is now scheduled to finish in stages between October and December.

“We’re still excited about what the new library will bring to the people of Lichfield and in the meantime the existing library will remain open as usual until St Mary’s is ready to move into.”

[![St Mary's in the Market Square. Pic: Bs0u10e01](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/stmarys.jpg)](//lichfieldlive.co.uk/2016/04/21/lichfield-library-move-will-safeguard-st-marys-in-the-market-square-says-lichfield-district-council-leader/stmarys/)

St Mary’s in the Market Square. Pic: Bs0u10e01

The work being carried out at St Mary’s includes exposing the church’s original features and 19th Century columns, incorporating etched glass screens into the new layout and retaining the altar, choir stalls and pews at the east end as a study area and IT suite.

While one end of the first floor will have a balcony overlooking the level below, its central space will be occupied by a performance and exhibition area, while the building will also have a photographic archive, education room and local history access point.

The decision to move the library from its current home at The Friary was a controversial one, with [thousands signing a petition](//lichfieldlive.co.uk/2016/05/03/campaigners-say-battle-for-consultation-over-lichfield-library-plans-has-reached-a-watershed-moment/) in a bid to prevent the move from happening.