Purcell is lead architect on 拢40m scheme

camden town hall

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A 拢40m refurbishment of grade II-listed Camden Town Hall is edging closer after the local authority resolved to give it planning.

Lendlease is the project manager on the refurbishment, with heritage specialist Purcell the lead architect.

A Camden council spokesperson said: 鈥淭he [planning] committee have resolved to grant permission and listed building consent but no permission has been issued as of yet.鈥

Some soft strip and asbestos removal is underway at the building (pictured) 鈥 but this work does not require planning permission or listed building consent.

The town hall鈥檚 main Judd Street entrance will be refurbished, with a new reception area. In addition, a new commercial office entrance will be created on Bidborough Street along with two new entrances to the Camden Centre on Tonbridge Walk.

The plans also include upgrading windows, replacing the third floor conservatory, general cleaning and maintenance of the building鈥檚 fa莽ades and conservation repairs.

黑洞社区 services will be upgraded throughout and the registry office will be reconfigured 鈥 with a new wedding suite along with refurbished spaces for registering births, marriages and deaths.

The building鈥檚 basement will contain what the council describes as 鈥渁n incubation space for local business start-ups鈥 while the second and third floors will be rented out as office space.

The Camden Centre, at the eastern end of the building, will be used for commercial events and run by Il Bottaccio, an international event production, catering and entertainment company, under the proposals.

Lendlease鈥檚 construction logistics plan, submitted to planning officers earlier this year, stated: 鈥淭he construction of the building is scheduled to begin February 2020. The building will be completed and ready for occupancy in January 2021.鈥

However, the refurb appears to be at least nine months behind schedule already, with the council鈥檚 website stating that the town hall will not be reoccupied until autumn 2021.