Vast £500m British Library expansion go-ahead

Before the £500m development for the site at the rear of the existing building can proceed the London Mayor will have to give his final verdict on the plan.

These include around 100,000 sq ft of new space for the British Library itself, and the station works infrastructure for Crossrail 2 beneath the site should it ever proceed.

This public work would be funded by a further 600,000 sq ft of space available for commercial let targeting bioscience and knowledge quarter tenants.

Project timeline:

• 2023–2025: We prepare the site for construction
• 2025–2029: Building begins and spaces are fitted out
• 2029: Our new spaces open to everyone

The proposed extension will open up public access to the library with new routes between Euston Road to the south and a new entrance beside Dangoor Walk to the north.