Alliance Leisure signs off £4m Leek museum upgrade
A grade two-listed North Staffordshire civic building has reopened to the public following extensive restoration and redevelopment, part of an ongoing regeneration of Leek town centre.
Work at Leek’s historic Nicholson Institute, which dates back to 1884 and houses the town’s museum and library, included essential repairs to the building, roof improvements, refurbished art rooms with a new fully accessible toilet on the lower ground floor.
The library has been refreshed with flooring and finishes, while the museum has been redesigned to provide a more accessible, welcoming and engaging environment for visitors.
Alliance Leisure led the £3.8m project for Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, with main contractor Speller Metcalfe, architects Roberts Limbrick and project managers Abacus.
Gareth Liversedge, Alliance Leisure’s delivery manager, said: “We’ve taken a much-loved historic building and created a modern, accessible and more sustainable space. Together with the transformation of the town’s Victorian indoor market and the redevelopment of Brough Park Leisure Centre, now known as MyActive Leek, these projects will play a key role in the regeneration of Leek.”
The project at the Nicholson has been delivered in partnership with Staffordshire County Council, who hold it in trust, manage the library service, and contributed to the cost of the library refurbishment.
Hayley Coles, deputy leader and cabinet member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council said: “It’s great to see the refurbishment completed at the library and wonderful to be able to welcome back visitors.
“We were pleased to have funded the improvements which have helped create a welcoming, vibrant, modern and flexible space that also complements the proud and rich heritage of the Nicholson building.
“The library is now ideally placed and fully equipped to meet local residents’ needs. This means it will remain a bustling community hub by having comfortable study space, quality book stock, and an inspiring children’s library to support future readers for years to come.”
