LONDON.- Westminster City Council’s Planning Committee have granted planning permission and listed building consent for Inspiring People, the National Portrait Gallery’s biggest ever development since the building in St Martin’s Place, London opened in 1896.

The approved designs by Jamie Fobert Architects, working in partnership with Purcell, will see a significant refurbishment of the building, restoring historic features and creating a new and more welcoming visitor entrance and public forecourt on the building’s North Façade, enhancing the Gallery’s visibility and accessibility.

The Gallery has now secured £31.5 of its £35.5m fundraising target. This includes the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund who have awarded development funding of £900,000, which has enabled the Gallery to apply for a full National Lottery grant of £9.4m, and a £6.5 million grant from the Trustees of the Garfield Weston Foundation towards the creation of a new public wing. The Gallery hopes to have all the funds in place by autumn 2019 with capital works expected to begin in summer 2020.

Dr Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the National Portrait Gallery said: “We are delighted that Westminster City Council have granted planning permission for our Inspiring People project, which represents a major milestone in transforming the National Portrait Gallery in order to truly fulfil our unique role as the Nation’s family album. This is the most significant development for the Gallery since the building opened in 1896. The renewed National Portrait Gallery will allow us to be more welcoming and engaging to all and enable us to display our Collection in ways that will bring to life British history and culture.”