Plans lodged for vast British Library extension

Joint venture developers Stanhope and Mitsui Fudosan UK have submitted plans for an 800,000 sq ft extension to the British Library site near St Pancras in London.Architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners have drawn up the scheme for the site at the rear of the existing building. Engineer Arup has also been appointed to the project.The project will include around 100,000 sq ft of new space for the British Library itself, and the station works infrastructure for Crossrail 2 beneath the site should it proceed.The first three floors of the proposed extension will consist predominantly of the new British Library space, as well as retail and the entrances to the commercial space.This would be funded by a further 600,000 sq ft of space available for commercial let targeting the bioscience and knowledge quarter tenants.Project timelineProposed British Library extension is located to the north of the existing Library buildingAutumn 2022: Planning committee held2023–2025: We prepare the site for construction2025–2029: Building begins and spaces are fitted out2029: Our new spaces open to everyoneCutaway of the proposed site showing the spaces dedicated to office and lab-enabled in relation to the existing British Library spaceThe proposed extension will open up public access to the library with new routes between Euston Road to the south and a new entrance beside Dangoor Walk to the north.The foyer space will run through the middle of the two blocks and will be 8 storeys high, with bridges linking the two blocks together.