Green Light for Landmark Barbican Transformation Plan
The City of London Corporation has approved the delivery plan for the Barbican Renewal Programme – a major investment that will secure the future of the internationally renowned creative powerhouse for the next 50 years.
The £191 million City Corporation funding package – announced in December last year - will revitalise the Centre’s creative and performance spaces to expand opportunities for formal and informal use. It will bring people together, enabling creative programming, learning, and community engagement - reaffirming the Barbican’s role as a platform for artists, educators, and the public to debate, collaborate, and drive social change.
The Barbican’s distinctive brutalist foyers, lakeside terrace and renowned Conservatory will be sensitively restored and enhanced in this first phase of Renewal which opens-up public spaces, creates new experiences and upgrades vital infrastructure.
A retrofit-first approach will boost sustainability and protect the Grade II-listed estate, reusing materials such as Conservatory glass and pavers to reduce carbon emissions. Essential safety and security works will ensure the Centre remains a world-class public venue for decades to come.
Opened in 1982 by Queen Elizabeth II, who hailed it as “one of the wonders of the modern world”, the Barbican now attracts millions of visitors annually. As its 50th anniversary approaches, the Renewal will build on this legacy by making the Centre more inclusive and accessible, including a new multi-faith room, increased bathroom provision, improved wayfinding, and full accessibility in the Conservatory.
To deliver the upgrades safely and efficiently, most Barbican programmes within the Centre will pause for one year from the end of June 2028 to June 2029. Cinemas on Beech Street will remain open, and the Barbican will programme differently with partners including residents the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Shakespeare Company, associate companies and festivals during this period.