- Library and community hub for South Tyneside
- South Tyneside's Hebburn Central will host a new library with state-of-the-art technology, a stock of 15,000 books, digitised materials and gaming areas.
- 19 Mar 2015
Hebburn Central a success
A year on from its opening, Hebburn Central has proved itself an asset to the local community, with library issues and visits soaring.
16 Jun 2016
Photo: FaulknerBrowns
Since its opening a year ago the centre has become an integral part of the local community in South Tyneside. The venue has already won three awards and been shortlisted for a fourth.
Hebburn Central includes a six-lane swimming pool, a learner pool with bubble pools, sauna and steam room, fitness suite, sports hall, dance studio, soft play area, library, learning centre and cafe, as well as meeting rooms, a customer service centre, local police help point and an outdoor multi-use games area.
Since opening there have been over 221,000 leisure admissions and 2,232 new leisure memberships. Book loans have increased by 31 per cent compared to the same period in the old building, the number of new library lenders has more than doubled and there has been a staggering 369 per cent increase in people logging on to the public computers.
Photo: FaulknerBrowns
Councillor Richard Porthouse, Chair of the Hebburn Community Area Forum (CAF), said: “We built this fantastic building because we wanted to give the people of Hebburn facilities fit for the 21st century and provide a focal point for the whole community. It has achieved all that and more and we are delighted with its success to date. Hebburn Central was the catalyst needed for breathing new life into our town.”
The venue has received recognition for both its architectural design and its role in the community, winning the Royal Institute of British Architects North East Award 2016 and Building Project of the Year in the Constructing Excellence in the North East awards; and a ‘Special Award For Community Impact and Engagement’ in the Civic Trust Awards. It has also been shortlisted in this year’s British Construction Industry Awards in the Building Project of the Year (£10m to £50m) category.