The Museum of London has received the green light from the City of London Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee for its plans to transform a campus of largely dilapidated market buildings in West Smithfield.
The approved plans mean the museum is one important step closer to realising its vision and opening the doors of its new home in 2024. The approval will result in a secure, sustainable future for the historic market buildings that make up the site, most of which date back to the Victorian Era and have fallen into significant disrepair. Much of the historic fabric of the buildings will be preserved to create cavernous and atmospheric spaces both above and below ground, capable of hosting a broader range of displays, exhibitions, learning activity and events.
Sharon Ament, Director of the Museum of London, said: “The museum will be so much more than what you see today at our existing site. This is all because the market buildings themselves enable us to create a set of galleries, show spaces, meeting rooms, exhibitions, places to eat, to learn, to meet friends, to work, to delve into London’s past, present and even to imagine possible futures.
“We will open these extraordinary buildings bringing them back into public use, at a time when Londoners are yearning to better understand who we are and how our city has developed. We will reach every single school child in the city and share more of our incredible stories rooted in the London Collection – including the most pertinent issues that Londoners are facing today. In these extraordinary and challenging times we all now find ourselves in, we believe it is now more important than ever to help people connect with and understand both their past and their future.”
The museum will play a vital role in the London economy, working closely with the best of the capital’s enterprise, creative and retail partners, and championing local creatives, businesses and talent.
It will also play a key role in the City of London Corporation’s Culture Mile vision, a transformational initiative to create a vibrant cultural area in the north-west corner of the City, which will significantly contribute to the wider revitalisation of Smithfield.
Alastair Moss, Chair of the Planning and Transportation Committee at the City of London Corporation, said: “The Museum of London’s plans for Smithfield Market represent a fantastic opportunity to sensitively revive these buildings and bring them back into use as an exciting and accessible destination for all of the City’s workers, residents and visitors to enjoy.”
The City of London Corporation has made an unprecedented investment into the project by putting forward £197 million of the £337 million needed to deliver the scheme. A substantial contribution of a capped £70m has also been made by the Mayor of London, which was announced in January 2017.
The site for the new Museum of London covers the General Market, Poultry Market and a suite of buildings known as The Annexe, which includes the Fish Market, Red House and Engine House. A Listed Building Consent Application for the Grade II-listed Poultry Market has also been secured.
