Haydock Library to temporarily close for transformation into SEND-inclusive library
St Helens Borough Council has announced the temporary closure of Haydock Library to enable work to start on an ambitious project to transform the library into a SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) inclusive library space for children and adults.
Article date: 12 December 2025
Haydock Library will close from 5pm on Tuesday 23 December and is expected to reopen in March 2026.
The redevelopment is being brought by St Helens Borough Council, which has commissioned Emily Peasgood Studio to reimagine the library as a welcoming, sensory-inclusive environment.
This project represents a bold departure from conventional library design, challenging traditional layouts to create a space that supports exploration, comfort, social connection and learning in many different forms.
The transformed library will support a wide range of inclusive features, including:
- Assistive technology - screen readers, text-to-speech software and braille displays
- Digital content - ebooks, audiobooks and accessible formats, including dyslexia-friendly fonts
- Sensory tools - fidget toys, weighted lap pads and quiet areas
- Accessible facilities - adaptive furniture, ramps and adjustable lighting
- Specialised learning materials - books, games and multimedia designed for people with cognitive disabilities
The project is led by Dr Emily Peasgood, an award-winning artist and composer known for innovative, community-centred public artworks, together with architect Ben Allen.
The pair previously collaborated on the Listening Desk for the British Library in 2023, an interactive installation providing access to rare sound archives across ten major UK institutions. Their shared commitment to accessibility and design innovation continues at Haydock Library through a distinctive, community-led approach.
Over the past six months, Emily Peasgood Studio has led a comprehensive participation programme, including visits to other libraries and a series of design workshops. This work has been shaped by a steering group of St Helens Borough Council staff and local organisations, including BuzzHub St Helens CDP and Listen4Change Parent Carer Forum.
In total, 76 people participated in the engagement programme, including 36 adults and children with disabilities - with accessibility and inclusion embedded throughout the engagement process.
A key principle of the project has been speaking directly with people with disabilities, ensuring their voices are central to the design rather than relying solely on carers or parents. Participants were invited to design their "dream library" using floor plans as creative prompts.
Dr Emily Peasgood said:
"This is a space for everyone, informed by the social model of disability. It's about balance - what one person needs can sometimes conflict with another's needs - so my aim is to create a space where everyone can find their place. I don't want to create something that looks like other libraries. I want it to be well-designed, beautiful and magical. A place where you want to be. I aim to create Haydock's living room."
Emily is supported by a specialist creative team, including public artist Mooch, local artist Catherine Jackman (bespoke signage), Laura Smith from MediCinema at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, accessibility specialist David Cleary, and library design expert Ayub Khan.
Councillor Sue Murphy MBE, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Localities, Culture and Heritage, said:
"We're excited by the possibilities of a transformed, SEND-inclusive Haydock Library. The project is building on our Library Services' excellent offer and ensuring that library users of all ages and needs, can access the resources and support they require to thrive, in an environment that suits them.
"And by exploring the five senses throughout the entire building - rather than isolating them in a single sensory zone - the redesign has the potential to redefine what a library can be. As a case study, Haydock Library could become a model for future inclusive, community-driven cultural spaces."
St Helens Borough Council thanks residents for their patience during the temporary closure and looks forward to welcoming the community back to a reimagined Haydock Library in early 2026.
Library loans can be renewed online or at any council library. The closest alternative libraries to Haydock are Newton-le-Willows Library, Moss Bank Library (which reopens on Kentmere Avenue on 18 December) and St Helens Library at the World of Glass.