Following significant population growth, largely associated with its status as a growing residential suburb of Manchester, a local board of health was established in Levenshulme in 1865.

The site they selected was open land on the east side of Stockport Road, just north of the Fallowfield Loop railway line.

[5][6] It was designed by James Jepson in the Italianate style, built by Burgess and Galt in red brick with ashlar stone finishings at a cost of £6,000 and was officially opened on 3 March 1899.

[7][8] Two reading rooms were installed in the building and were opened by the chairman of the Manchester Libraries Committee, Alderman James Wilson Southern, on 22 September 1899.

The entrance is flanked by brackets supporting a frieze, an entablature inscribed with the words "Council Offices", and a small triangular pediment containing a roundel.