Project
National Portrait Gallery
Jamie Fobert Architects
The National Portrait Gallery - the world’s first portrait gallery - is housed in a Grade I listed building designed by Ewan Christian and opened in 1896. A £35.5m scheme, ‘Inspiring People’, designed by Jamie Fobert Architects working alongside conservation architects Purcell, will transform the Grade I listed Gallery, making it more accessible and welcoming to the public as well as restoring historic features. At its core is a comprehensive re-display and reinterpretation of the Gallery’s permanent collection. Externally a new public forecourt will improve access and create a step-change in the quality of the townscape at the southern end of Charing Cross Road.
Lichfields secured listed building consent and planning permission following a unanimous decision at Westminster City Council’s planning sub-committee meeting in May 2019. We are currently assisting the Gallery with discharging planning conditions to facilitate implementation of the project which is due to be completed in 2023.
Lichfields entered into a Planning Performance Agreement with us which enabled both parties to adhere to key milestones and ultimately for us to deliver a positive decision within a very tight timescale. We found Lichfields to be efficient and straightforward to deal with, which contributed to the quick and relatively smooth decision making process.
Project Case Officer, Westminster City Council