Harrow library upgrade gives Roxeth a new hub

By Hiyastar local news desk

Roxeth Library in South Harrow is set for a £110,000 refurbishment, with work planned to turn the long-running branch into a more flexible community hub by Spring 2027.

Harrow Council says the upgrade will focus on how residents now use libraries, including quiet study, remote working, family visits and access to digital services. The branch, which first opened in 1954, remains one of the borough’s established local libraries.

Planned changes inside Roxeth Library

Residents can expect a refreshed layout built around more open and adaptable space. The planned improvements include:

• Flexible open areas for different types of library use
• New furniture, flooring and decor
• Dedicated study zones
• Integrated power and data points for device use
• A layout designed for remote work, reading and family visits

The changes are intended to support both traditional borrowing and the wider role libraries now play as study, work and community spaces. Similar library renewal work is also being seen elsewhere, including another library regeneration project due to reshape local access to public learning spaces.

£110,000 funding from Arts Council England

The refurbishment is being funded through £110,000 secured from Arts Council England. Harrow is one of seven London library authorities to receive support through the programme.

The money forms part of the Government’s wider Arts Everywhere Fund, a £1.5 billion package aimed at improving access to arts and culture across England.

Cllr Janet Mote, Harrow Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Culture, said the investment would help Roxeth Library continue serving residents for years to come. She said the council was “putting residents first” by meeting current and future needs.

Spring 2027 completion target

The upgraded Roxeth Library is expected to be completed by Spring 2027. The council has not set out a detailed works schedule in the announcement, so residents who use the branch should watch for future service notices on opening hours, access changes or temporary arrangements.

The timing also places the project within the National Year of Reading 2026, a year in which councils and cultural bodies are expected to put renewed focus on reading access and library use.

What residents can already use at Roxeth

Roxeth Library members can borrow up to 25 items at a time from a collection of more than 21,000 books. The branch also gives access to digital newspapers, magazines, eBooks and eAudiobooks.

Research and learning tools available through the library service include Ancestry, Britannica, Driving Theory Test Pro and BFI Replay.

Michelle Walker, London Area Director at Arts Council England, said the funding would help keep cultural venues, museums and libraries “open, sustainable and accessible for years to come”.

Source: London Borough of Harrow