Work will begin on the state-of-the-art £1million development, if it meets Macclesfield Borough Council approval, in January - ready for January 2,000.
The sleek glass and metal entrance will be the gateway to a new civic square which will include:
A development of 13 flats, above the library and in St John's Road, to be sold on the open market
A new old folk's club, which will be open to other groups
A separate cafe and restaurant
A new millennium park in Toft Road and
An Elizabeth Gaskell and local history archive combined with the latest in information technology.
Architects Lindholt Springett want the library to be a link between the town centre and a new public and private 'civic quarter'.
"The county council is anxious to provide public facilities that are going to be of broader community benefit," said architect Morten Lindholt.
Plans are also afoot to redesign the gardens in front of the library with sculptures and activities, using money left over from the building work.
The designers and officers from Cheshire County Council will be on hand today to discuss the plans with visitors. The display will stay in the Civic Centre until September 27.
By ROB CAVE
Chief Reporter
Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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