Formal plans have been submitted to allow Lichfield Library to move to a new home at St Mary’s in the Market Square.
The decision to switch the facility from its current home at The Friary was made by Staffordshire County Council last year and saw thousands sign a petition fighting the proposals.
A planning application has now gone to Lichfield District Council in a bid to approve the internal works needed to accommodate the library at its new home.
The Grade II listed building at St Mary’s dates back to 1853, although its role as a church ended in the 1970s. The site has since become home to a museum and tourist information centre.
A statement supporting the planning application said: “The alterations proposed are to facilitate a new fully-accessible library and to promote the library and continued use of a reconfigured museum and community facilities.
“The proposals aim to strip back much of the new interventions installed in the 1970s conversion, revealing more of the existing historic fabric.”
The plans will see the existing chapel, alter and organ retained and integrated into the new facility.
As well as internal changes, there will also be some outside alterations too.
The statement added: “The most significant of these are the lowering of two of the existing windows which face Market Square. A simple glass lobby is also proposed.”
Full details of the proposals can be seen on Lichfield District Council’s planning website, where people can also have their say on the planned development.
