The Royal College of Art has been granted full planning permission for a major renewal of its Kensington campus, with the £90 million project centred on the restoration and transformation of the Grade II-listed Darwin Building. Press Release _ Planning permis…
Led by Witherford Watson Mann Architects with Clementine Blakemore Architects, the redevelopment will combine conservation with new teaching spaces, upgraded studios and workshops, improved accessibility and a more open public realm.
A key part of the next phase will be the reinstatement of the historic 1851 Place entrance, facing the Royal Albert Hall. The move will reconnect the RCA more directly with Exhibition Road and South Kensington’s wider cultural district, while creating a new public-facing entrance to the College.
Works began in 2025 and will be delivered in phases, with completion planned for 2032 so that teaching and research can continue throughout the redevelopment.
Professor Christoph Lindner, RCA President and Vice-Chancellor, said:
“This project strikes the vital balance between celebrating the heritage of our iconic Kensington campus and building a sustainable, world-class environment where future generations of creative innovators can thrive. By reopening our historic 1851 Place main entrance onto South Kensington’s cultural quarter, we are not only modernising our facilities but deeply enriching our engagement with our communities and London’s creative ecosystem.”
The project is expected to cost approximately £90 million, with the RCA saying the redevelopment will also bring longer-term savings through improved energy efficiency and the consolidation of its campuses.
