Coldean Library is a branch library providing services to the local population in this outlying area of Brighton. The ground floor comprises a new community library to replace an existing library on the same site, which was housed in a building which required considerable investment and did not provide the library service with the flexible accommodation it now requires.

Above the library on the first and second floors are six Hanover 'close care' flats for older people, which will benefit from the proximity of the facilities provided by Hanover's existing New Larchwood extra care scheme, also designed by Archadia.

The design integrates contemporary elevational ideas with many of the familiar aspects of traditional construction. Contrasting brick infill panels express the windows as more dominant elements in the façade. In the library area, the development is one of the first to incorporate new electric heat pumping technology with under floor heating in place of fossil fuel fired boilers.

Archadia Chartered Architects architectural practice is located in Hampton, Middlesex 
in south-west London and also in Surbiton, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey.