East Greenwich library sold by Greenwich Council

After years on the market it would appear Greenwich Council have sold the former east Greenwich library as new signs proclaiming “acquired for clients” now adorn the outside.

The listed Carnegie library building is in a pretty dire state.

And sits in an area with awful public realm.

The poor old library struggled on after the Blackwall flyover cut it off and the local streets endured some god-awful design and street clutter.

The state of the area wouldn’t help the sale price. Imagine selling your car with the bonnet smashed in or your house with a skip full of crap in the garden. No one with half a brain does that.

If they’d long ago spent a few quid sprucing up this area it may have proved more enticing to buyers and gain some more money, but well, you didn’t expect that did you?

The council have been sitting on money from TfL to improve this area for quite some time. Work in the spring was delayed. Work is due to begin in November unless delayed again.

The library was gradually reduced in size over the years as the building fell apart. It eventually moved to the Greenwich centre (replete with flammable cladding) in recent years.

Given its listed and in dire condition I doubt they’ve got much – or what any buyer intends to do. Housing conversion perhaps?

It’s a listed site that will prove costly to fix so the authority can’t be blamed for selling. Unlike the Plumstead children’s centre where it appears they are in the process of selling off cheaply. That did have other options.

Much income is expected to go towards the Woolwich Creative District.

Running a site alone takes time and a fair bit of money. Adverts are far from enough to cover it and my living costs as a private renter.