The Portico Library awarded £6.4m as once-in-a-generation expansion moves forward

The Portico Library has secured £6.4 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver a once-in-a-generation expansion of the literary landmark.

The Portico Reunited project seeks to bring all floors of the Grade II*-listed building into use as a library for the first time in a century, creating new spaces for reading, creativity, discovery and learning.

As part of the plans, visitors are invited to discover Northern writers and publishers in a new bookshop – the first of its kind; explore Manchester’s food culture in the Portico Kitchen; and enjoy a busy exhibitions and creative workshop programme.

The project will return the ground floor and basement to library use, introducing step-free access throughout. Entry to The Portico will remain free.

The architectural plans, developed by heritage specialists Purcell, will conserve the building’s distinctive character while making it easier for people to enter, move around and enjoy. Alongside urgent repairs and restoration of the historic interiors and glazed dome, the plans include a lift, a Changing Places toilet and a quiet room. The Portico LightBox, a new architectural feature, will connect the ground floor, first floor and dome.

Low-carbon heating and environmental improvements will set the building on a path towards a net- zero carbon future, helping address the impact of a changing climate on its historic fabric and delicate collections.

The Heritage Fund grant marks a major milestone. The project now enters its next phase to ultimately raise £12m to complete the transformation and support the Portico’s work before, during and after construction.

Founded in 1806, the Portico is a remarkable survivor of industrial Manchester, with its collection and archive preserved in its original Greek Revival home. Established as a subscription library and newsroom before Manchester had a free public library, it offered its members books, newspapers and periodicals for learning, pleasure, and debate.

The Portico already welcomes the public six days a week, but stairs limit access, and the library occupies only the first floor. A reinstated, step-free Mosley Street entrance will welcome people into the reunited building, opening new ways to experience its spaces and collection.

At its heart will be the historic collection of 25,000 books and archive material, ranging from novels and poetry to science, travel, history and maps. The project will protect this collection and create new opportunities to explore it through school visits, creative workshops, research and exhibitions.

Dr Thom Keep, Librarian and CEO of The Portico Library, said: “This is a landmark moment in the Portico’s rich and complex history, and a huge achievement for our staff, trustees, volunteers, and partners. Their imagination, care and persistence have brought us to this point. Thanks to National Lottery players, we can reunite this extraordinary building and make room for people to discover, learn and create together.

“We have listened to thousands of people about what the Portico could become, and their ideas and experiences have helped shape these plans. Our ambition is a library that belongs to the whole city: a place to discover remarkable collections, question the stories we have inherited, and create new possibilities together.

“Books and stories help us see the world through other people’s eyes, building understanding and empathy. Whether you come to read, share food, join a conversation or simply enjoy a moment of calm, we want you to feel that the Portico is yours too.”

Lucy Powell, Secretary of State for Education and MP for Manchester Central, added: “For more than two centuries, the Portico Library has stood at the heart of Manchester as a home for books, learning and new ideas. This support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reunite one of our city’s great historic buildings, open it fully to
everyone and secure its remarkable collections for the future.

“I have been proud to champion Portico Reunited and pay tribute to the staff, trustees, volunteers and partners whose extraordinary ambition and persistence have brought the project to this point.”

Manchester City Council has already granted planning permission and listed building consent. The building is expected to close for construction in late spring 2028 and open in early March 2030. Until then, the Portico will continue to welcome visitors through its ongoing programme.

During construction, its work will continue through Porti-Go!, bringing collections, conversations and creative activities into temporary spaces, community settings and online. Following reopening, the transformed library is expected to welcome around 95,000 visitors each year.

If you want to find out more about supporting the Portico Reunited project and helping shape its next chapter, contact librarian@theportico.org.uk. You can read more about the Reunited project here.