When Haydock Library reopened in March 2026, it was presented as a major step forward in inclusive public design. St Helens Borough Council described it as a “pioneering” and “fully SEND inclusive” space for the community. Comments from its lead designer however, challenge key claims made in the official announcement.
The redevelopment, supported by Arts Council England, has been framed as a model for accessible library provision. Arts Council England confirmed that while SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) inclusion was not a funding requirement, the project meets the aims of the Libraries Improvement Fund, and can be highlighted as a strong example of inclusive design.
However, a communication with the project’s lead designer, Dr Emily Peasgood, provides a more nuanced account of both the design process and its limitations.
“No space can be fully inclusive”
The most direct challenge to the council’s description comes from Dr Peasgood herself. In an email to North West Bylines she stated;
“No space can be considered fully inclusive. Inclusion is an ongoing process rather than a fixed outcome.”
Additionally, SEND specialist Claire Walley emphasised that physical design alone cannot achieve full inclusion, highlighting that staff interaction and ongoing engagement with visitors are equally crucial to creating genuinely inclusive spaces.
This statement contrasts with the press release, which presents the library as “fully SEND inclusive”. In its response, the council described the design as “SEND supportive” and listed specific features supporting the claim Dr Peasgood confirmed that the project has known limitations, including structural constraints and elements that could not be delivered within the project timeframe. These constraints include the inability to expand the accessible toilet and outstanding external works such as tactile paving alignment. It is worth noting that these limitations were not referenced in the original council announcement.
Haydock Library: design shaped by consultation
According to Dr Peasgood the library’s redevelopment was informed by a consultation process involving 88 participants. This included: 36 participants who identified as living with a disability, 12 support workers, 10 carers, and 23 council staff members.
Participants were drawn from community and advocacy groups across the borough including; Listen4Change, BuzzHub, Focus Employment Hub, and the Deafness Resource Centre. The council email states that 69 people attended redesign workshops and 15 people attended redesign workshops and 15 people attended go-see visits, while Dr Peasgood reported 88 participants. The figures therefore differ, although the two accounts describe different forms of engagement. Dr Peasgood described the process as one based on direct engagement and iterative feedback, rather than a single formal consultation. Further stating that the aim was to design “with people rather than for them”, reflecting principles associated with the social model for disability.
Design changes driven by visitor feedback
Specific features of the library were altered in direct response to participants’ feedback. These included; increasing entrance widths beyond the current standard accessibility guidance, redesigning the flooring to assist those with cerebral visual impairment, features such as a sensory room open every Friday afternoon and sensory aids such as touch pads throughout the library rather than confined to one specific space, removing the need for a radar key to access accessible toilets, audible entry signals being removed, and the inclusion of Braille and British Sign Language signage.
Additional features added include dimmable lighting, quiet breakout areas, adaptive seating, and multi-format “social stories”. Dr Peasgood stated that these changes were intended to move beyond compliance-based approaches and instead address real-world visitor experience.
According to the council, additional SEND features included; assistive technology, sensory resources and communication tools were also added. Claire Walley stressed that the effectiveness of the design changes depended heavily on staff training as well as how personnel interact with those using the library, reinforcing that the new SEND design features alone do not guarantee full inclusivity.
Balancing competing access needs
According to Dr Peasgood the design process involved managing conflicting requirements and striking a balance to accommodate for all possible access needs. “Different access needs do not always align”, she stated. Rather than attempting to meet all needs simultaneously, the approach taken was to minimise barriers overall while avoiding exclusion of any single group.
Ms Walley added that operational factors, such as staff awareness, engagement, and responsiveness, play a central role in balancing access needs, highlighting that inclusion is a practice rather than a fixed feature of the physical space.
How success will be measured
Dr Peasgood indicated that the success of the redevelopment should be assessed through long-term visitor experience, rather than initial presentation. Key measures include; whether those using the library feel comfortable in the newly designed space, whether the library sees an increase in usage from the wider community and those living with disabilities, and whether previous barriers that prevented access are reduced.
While she reported that early observations at the reopening suggested changes in how the space is being used, no independent evaluation framework has been published to date. The council email states that the success of the new design will be evaluated by Arts Council England as part of its evaluation of the project. Arts Council England subsequently confirmed that the council is required to provide a minimum of two activity reports detailing progress, delivery, and finances, but said there has not been a specific focus on SEND outcomes as part of the programme-level evaluation . Ms Walley emphasised that ongoing observations and feedback from visitors, combined with staff engagement, will be crucial when evaluating the library’s true inclusivity.
Haydock Library: part of a wider strategy
The project forms part of a broader strategy by St Helens Borough Council to expand cultural and wellbeing services through its Library Strategy 2023-28. Funding support from Arts Council England places the redevelopment within a national programme aimed at improving library infrastructure. Dr Peasgood stated that while the principles of the project could be applied elsewhere, the design itself should not be replicated without local consultation.
Ms Walley’s input further highlights that replication of the Haydock Library model must take into consideration local staffing, training, and community engagement, not just architectural features. The email received from the local authority confirmed that feedback from the Haydock Library design will inform future library redesigns, however it stressed that any replication of the project or its designs remains at the discretion of local authorities.
A more complex picture of SEND inclusion
Haydock Library’s redevelopment demonstrates a detailed and consultation-led approach to inclusive design, with measurable changes implemented in response to visitor feedback. However, the contrast between the council’s presentation and the designer’s account highlights the importance of examining how inclusion is defined and communicated in public projects. As Dr Peasgood’s comments make clear, inclusion is not a fixed outcome, but a continuing process shaped by practical constraints, competing needs, and long-term use and human engagement.
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