A brand new library that stood empty for two years has finally gone up for rent as a “prime retail unit” at £60,000 a year.

After months of silence from Croydon Council and its property development company Brick by Brick, the South Norwood building – which sits at the bottom of a block of 14 flats known as Pump House – is available to rent in “shell condition”.

It has been empty since it was completed two years ago, while the library service remains in a 1970s building around the corner.

The advert reads: “The Pump House forms part of a new development of 14 energy efficient one and two bedroom flats and ground floor retail/leisure.

"The energy saving building has green roofs, PV panels and double glazed windows to keep its efficiency.

"The unit is in shell condition ready for a tenants fit out.”

Now campaigners said they are “chasing answers” to what will happen to £800,000 of investment in the building promised by Croydon Council.

In the summer of 2021, there was a chance the library was going to be sold off as the building was not finished to the standard expected, but in August the council said it would use Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money to make it usable.

Last week, requests for an update on the situation were ignored by Brick by Brick and Croydon Council, both have been contacted for comment again.

The listing for rent of the new library comes as a shock to campaigners, especially as signs in the building’s window read: “New library coming soon, delivered by Brick by Brick on behalf of Croydon Council.” 

After cuts to the library service in Croydon, South Norwood Library is currently open for just three days a week.

Croydon Council previously had plans to close the library in South Norwood altogether, one of five at risk of closure, which locals came out in force to campaign against.

The authority ditched this plan as it would not save enough money, opting instead to keep all the borough’s libraries open but with reduced hours.

The library is based in Lawrence Road in a 1970s building loved by architecture fans. 

More than 1,700 people signed a petition to save the brutalist library.

This week, the campaign was featured in The Modernist magazine.