Published 15/10/2026 By William Turtle-Clark

The board overseeing multi-million-pound funding for Hereford's Shirehall has withdrawn its support for the troubled library and learning centre project, citing concerns over viability and tight government deadlines.

The Stronger Hereford Board, established 6 years ago to administer a large pot of Government Towns Fund money across 15 city projects, confirmed it is recommending that its £2.34 million contribution to the Grade II* listed building should not proceed.

In an update issued in August, Herefordshire Council confirmed it expected £2.6 million from the fund to assist in creating a new library within the 19th-century site using a reduced, less costly layout. The local authority had planned to invest £8.5 million of its own funds into structural works to stabilize the Shirehall, which has remained largely vacant since part of its ceiling collapsed 6 years ago.

However, the Stronger Hereford Board expressed serious doubt regarding the scheme's execution. The board stated it was "concerned about the project’s current viability and lack of assurance of its ability to meet the Government’s funding timetable," which requires all project spending to be fully committed by March 2028.

The board has recommended reallocating the £2.34 million to other eligible projects across Hereford in line with Towns Fund rules, though it noted it "remains open to considering a revised Shirehall library scheme". Meanwhile, a separate £2.32 million allocation toward the refurbishment of the Hereford Museum and Art Gallery on Broad Street remains committed, subject to close monitoring.

Abigail Appleton, Chair of the Stronger Hereford Board, said: "The board made its recommendation concerning the Shirehall library only after very careful consideration of the current position, risks and timelines we need to meet."

Ms Appleton added: "We remain immensely proud of Stronger Hereford’s track record of delivering projects across the city from Growing Local to the enhanced skate park, the new cycle track, refurbishment of the Castle Green Pavilion and, most recently, NMITE’s new skills hub."

Herefordshire Council was approached for comment on the future of the Shirehall project.