First phase on East Ham library and service centre complete

Melissa York, Reporter Monday, December 17, 2012
1:15 PM

Newham councillors gathered for a topping out ceremony to mark progress on a £27.5m library and service centre in East Ham.

External building work was completed on the East Ham Civic Campus, at Barking Road, which will be transformed from a former technical college into a customer service centre and library.

Work on the three-floor, 33,000 sq ft building is being carried out by BAM Construction who worked on Chobham Academy, the first school to open in the Olympic Park next year.

Cllr Ian Corbett, Cllr Jose Alexander, Andy Mason, construction director for BAM Construction and Cllr Lester Hudson gathered on December 6 for an early morning topping out ceremony.

Cllr Hudson, Deputy Mayor of Newham, said: “This is a significant milestone for both the project and for Newham.

“East Ham’s town hall has been at the heart of our community for generations and is now set for a new lease of life.”

Newham Council is expected to cut costs by integrating its front office services in one place.

The buildings have been vacant since 2008, and plans were approved by cabinet in May 2010.

Preliminary work on the site began back in July and the project is due to be completed in autumn 2013.