The College of West Anglia (CWA) joined partners and members of the local community on 16th March to celebrate the opening of the new library at 46 New Conduit Street in King’s Lynn.
Designed to serve residents of all ages and strengthen access to learning, skills and community services, the new, larger library is part of the King’s Lynn Town Deal regeneration programme that is seeing major investment from the UK Government and other partners.
The library has been delivered by Norfolk County Council, in partnership with the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and King's Lynn Neighbourhood Board, with the college also playing a key role in shaping the exciting new community facilities.
The opening event brought together local organisations, residents and education providers to highlight the role the new facility will play as a modern civic hub. The library offers flexible spaces for events, a purpose-bult training kitchen, adult learning provision, business support and a range of community services; creating a shared environment where education and opportunity are accessible to everyone.
Kerry Heathcote, Vice Principal and Deputy CEO and Lucas Cooper, Head of Admissions and Business Support from the College attended to demonstrate their ongoing commitment and partnership with the County and Borough Councils, as well as strengthening links with the local community and widening access to education.
Among those present was CWA student, Joshua Cole, who is studying the T-level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction. Joshua has previously completed work experience with Mace Group, one of the companies involved in the construction of the new library, providing a strong link between the project and the College’s provision for the next generation of construction professionals.
Reflecting on his experience at the event, Joshua said, “It was a great experience, and I really appreciated everyone who contributed to it, including the team at MACE and the technology careers team at CWA. I learned how a building comes together from the ground up, gaining an understanding of the full process, from the structure itself to the finishing touches. Being part of this has given me a strong foundation for my CV and future opportunities, including university and employment. It shows that I have practical ability, not just skills on paper, and it gave me the chance to prove what I can do.”
Hospitality students from the College supported the event by preparing and serving canapes and refreshments for guests. This enabled them to showcase their skills while contributing to the celebrations.
To mark the opening week, members of the College’s Admissions team will also be working from the library, providing information and advice about courses and career pathways available through the College. Working in collaboration with Norfolk Adult Learning, the College is exploring offering tailored courses and careers advice directly from the library in the future.
Councillor Kay Mason Billig, Leader of Norfolk County Council, said:
“This new library represents a major investment in King’s Lynn and a truly historic moment for the town."
“Standing here today, you can appreciate how firmly the library sits at the heart of the community. This library will be connected to daily life in King’s Lynn and is something we can be proud of."
“We have built the library to the highest modern standards, ensuring it fit for the future. At the same time, it respects King’s Lynn’s rich heritage, providing a permanent home for the town’s heritage collections."
Kerry Heathcote, Deputy CEO at the College of West Anglia, who is also the Neighbourhood Board representative for this project, added, “The newly developed curriculum planning collaboration between CWA and NCC reflects the continued focus of CWA to working closely with community partners to ensure educational opportunities are increasingly responsive to local needs. The embedding of modern, bright, accessible learning spaces within a key civic hub will further strengthen the connection between lifelong learning and the communities we serve in King’s Lynn and the surrounding area.”
Cllr Alistair Beales, Leader of the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, said: “This amazing new and much larger library is the start of a new chapter for the town centre, as we drive forward our wider regeneration vision for King’s Lynn that’s helping to unlock the full potential of our unique place for local communities.
“Our new library is a truly welcoming, modern and fully-accessible community and learning space for people of all ages. While looking ahead, it also showcases our rich heritage with a fabulous permanent display of our historic book collection. It's a great example of partnership working for the benefit of our whole community.”
The collaboration reflects the College’s continued focus on working closely with community partners to ensure education remains responsive to local needs. By embedding learning spaces within a key civic hub, the initiative strengthens the connection between education and everyday community life in King’s Lynn.
About King’s Lynn Town Deal
Led by the borough council in partnership with the King’s Lynn Neighbourhood Board, the King’s Lynn Town Deal programme will help unlock the full potential of our unique place for local communities, delivering new facilities, opportunities and jobs for residents, supporting the local economy and making more of our rich heritage buildings and spaces for a stronger and sustainable future. Backed by a £25m Government grant
and driven forward by a dynamic team at the Borough Council and King’s Lynn Neighbourhood Board, work is underway to deliver exciting projects that will bring the positive change local people tell us they want to shape the future of our town.