Barratt London, in collaboration with North Harrow Community Library, has relaunched the children’s section at North Harrow community library following its closure. The children’s section has been transformed to create a bright, welcoming and inspiring space for young readers and families in the community.
To mark the unveiling of this new and improved space, the Mayor of the London Borough of Harrow, Councillor Anjana Patel, alongside members of the Barratt London team and North Harrow Library volunteers came together and officially opened the doors to the community. The Mayor praised the collaborative effort and the positive impact the project will have on local children and families.
Mayor of the London Borough of Harrow, Councillor Anjana Patel, said:
“I am truly impressed by the wonderful new children’s section in North Harrow Library. It creates a vibrant, welcoming space that I know will inspire and encourage our young people to discover the joys of reading and to make full use of everything the library has to offer. It is amazing to see how much can be achieved through strong partnership working and this project is a shining example of what we can accomplish when our community comes together.”
The renovation project involved Barratt London’s construction team, London Borough of Harrow, and the library volunteers providing a complete refresh of the children’s area. This included the installation of new bookshelves and flooring, a comfortable seating area designed for reading as well as group activities.
The volunteers also completely transformed the area with fresh coat of paint in a variety of bright warm colours to bring the space to life and create an inviting environment that encourages creativity and imagination.
Until 2015, the library was part of Harrow Council’s Library Services, however, following lack of government funding that led to the closure of four local libraries, North Harrow library was forced to close its doors. Determined to keep the library open, local residents formed the North Harrow Community Library Trust, comprising a group of passionate volunteers who campaigned to reopen the site as a community-run library.
The Trust successfully reopened North Harrow Community Library in September 2018, now managed entirely by volunteers, providing essential access to books, digital resources, events and educational programmes for residents of all ages. Having now been open for seven years, the children’s section had become in need of refurbishment.
Kamal Shah (Chair of Trustees) North Harrow Community Library said: “We are incredibly grateful to Barratt London for their time, skills and dedication to bringing the refurbishment to life. Since we re-opened through the North Harrow Community Library Trust, the space had become tired, and we are delighted that Barratt London volunteered to bring it back to life.
“The refurbishment of the children’s section is particularly important as it provides a safe and stimulating place for young people to develop early literacy skills, foster a lifelong love of reading and connect with others through shared learning and play.”
Danny Farenden, Projects Director at Barratt London said: “We are delighted to have supported North Harrow Community Library with this meaningful renovation, allowing them to continue the great work they are doing under the Trust. Community spaces like this are vital for local families and it’s been a privilege to create a space that encourages learning and creativity for young readers.
“At Barratt London we are always looking for opportunities to give back to local communities where we build our developments to ensure that we are not only delivering high-quality homes for the current generation, but also supporting the foundation for the new generation.”
North Harrow Community Library is located just a seven-minute drive from Barratt London’s Eastman Village development, off Harrow View Road. Eastman Village is a joint venture between Barratt London and Hyde Group transforming the site of the former Kodak Factory. The development is part of a larger £1.75bn improvement scheme in Harrow which will include two new schools, 3,000 jobs, shops, leisure facilities and commercial space.
Steeped in history with original restored features such as the Kodak tower chimney, an iconic symbol of Harrow, and retained brickwork throughout, the development preserves the site’s heritage while delivering modern homes and community amenities for the next generation.
Barratt London also recently opened the new Green Link park, which forms part of the 6.2 acres of landscaped green space on the site. The pathway runs through the heart of Eastman Village linking the development to Headstone Manor and other nearby amenities. The Green Link enhances the natural beauty of Eastman Village and offers residents and the local community a new outdoor area to enjoy as well as supporting biodiversity.
Through Eastman Village, Barratt London continues to invest in Harrow’s regeneration, delivering high quality homes, green spaces and community partnerships that benefit both residents and the surrounding neighbourhood. Upon completion, the development will comprise 2,250 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
