£290,000 secured for St Helens Library and Gamble Building transformation

Article date: 16 April 2026

The Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) funding, awarded by Arts Council England, will support the transformation of the historic building creating a library space that will be a welcoming, modern and flexible community hub in the heart of the regenerated St Helens town centre, providing access to everything from books and digital resources, to learning opportunities, cultural engagement and community support for all residents and visitors.

The library is one of 17 cultural venues, local museums and libraries in the North West that are set to benefit from a £16.9 million funding boost, helping to ensure that everyone can access arts and culture in the places they call home.

Tanya Wilcock, Director of Communities for St Helens Borough Council, said:

"Our plans for St Helens Library and the Gamble Building, now supported by the Libraries Improvement Fund, have been developed to make the best possible use of this historical space. This funding will enable us to provide a modern, accessible and adaptable space that meets the evolving needs of our communities as part of our Borough Library Strategy 2023-2028. The transformed St Helens Library will be a welcoming place for residents of all ages - supporting learning, digital inclusion, cultural activity and community connection, while ensuring our historic buildings continue to serve a vital role in everyday life."

Rebecca Ball, Area Director, North, Arts Council England said:

"Our museums, libraries and arts organisations have the power to change lives, they give us access to new worlds, teach us about our heritage and give us new perspectives on life. I'm so pleased that we'll be supporting so many of our cultural organisations in the North with this capital investment, which will ensure that they can continue to deliver incredible arts and culture to their communities."

The transformation will include the addition of a contemporary extension on the rear of the building that is complementary to the historical building's façade.

This extension will provide space for a new exhibition space alongside a new state-of-the-art Archive facility, and a new fully accessible entrance in line with the Equality Act - further supporting access to arts and cultural activity for local people.

Work on the Gamble Building is now in Phase 4 of 5. Designs are being finalised and detailed costs and delivery programme are being developed, informed by the ongoing enabling works and an imminent planning application submission.

Works completion is currently envisaged in Summer 2028, recognising that timeframes may alter depending on construction progress.

Work on this historic building is being made possible through a variety of other funding streams that the project team at St Helens Borough Council have secured or applied for. This includes the council's Capital Programme, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, Town Deal Funding, and £2 million from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority for regeneration initiatives.

Learn more about the council's vision for the Gamble Building and progress on its restoration: https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/GambleBuilding

Libraries Improvement Fund grants are administered, awarded, and monitored by Arts Council England.

About Arts Council England  

Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. Between 2023 and 2026 we will have invested over £467 million of public money from Government, alongside an estimated £250 million each year from The National Lottery, to support individual practitioners, arts organisations, museums and libraries, and to help ensure that people in every part of the country have access to culture and creativity in the places where they live. Visit our website to learn more about our work.