The City of London Corporation has won the national ‘Planning Permission of the Year’ at the prestigious Planning Awards 2024, recognising its decision to approve a mixed-use scheme at 65 Crutched Friars by Dominus which will include a new permanent home for the Migration Museum in the Square Mile. Dominus are currently on-site delivering this planning permission – completion is anticipated for 2027.
Proactive City planners were instrumental in assisting to find a new permanent home for the Migration Museum which features over 3,000 sqm, over three floors, of exhibition, educational, art, cultural, café, and training space, with substantial public realm benefits and prominent multi-aspect frontages.
The Planning Awards Ceremony took place on Thursday 13 June at IET London: Savoy Place, marking the eleventh consecutive year of celebration in honouring excellence in planning and placemaking.
The Museum celebrates migration, the lifeblood of London and the City. It will be part of a 769-unit (35% affordable) student accommodation led development, addressing a chronic London wide shortfall in student accommodation, supporting young people, London’s Higher Educational offer and introducing a dynamic new demographic, forging a 7 day and evening inclusive, welcoming City for all communities.
Planning Award judges praised the scheme for its focus and potential to attract a broader range of diverse communities into the City.
Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee, Shravan Joshi, said:
“The City is a true melting pot of cultures, bringing together people from around the World and is a living demonstration of how communities have thrived over centuries in this amazing place. It wouldn’t be what it is today, without being welcoming, open-minded and open-hearted.
That is why I am delighted that the planning permission which involves the Migration Museum finding a new permanent home in the heart of the City as well as much needed student accommodation to support London’s Higher Education offer has been recognised by the Planning Awards and I pay tribute to the brilliant planning team who have made this possible.”
Migration Museum CEO, Sophie Henderson said:
“We cannot think of a more exciting or resonant location for Britain’s missing museum than the City of London, site of some of the oldest and most intriguing migration stories from the Romans to medieval times and the present day. The Migration Museum will be a high profile, stylish and welcoming new cultural institution that puts our long, rich and complex story of the movement of people both to and from Britain over the ages right at centre stage, where it belongs. It has been a privilege and pleasure to work with the City planning team and developers Dominus to bring this important project to fruition.”
Principal Director of Dominus, Jay Ahluwalia, said:
“We’re thrilled that the City of London has received this award, recognising their collaborative approach, working creatively alongside developers to enable impactful developments such as these to come forward. We’re now on site building out this great development and look forward to continued partnership with the Migration Museum at 65 Crutched Friars to deliver their permanent new home and broaden the cultural offer in The City.”
