Barbican Centre in need of £450m for repairs, says City of London

The Barbican Centre, a brutalist concrete complex, is in need of urgent repairs, the City of London Corporation says

London's Barbican Centre is in need of more than £450m for essential works, the City of London Corporation says.

It includes repairing and replacing infrastructure to meet accessibility and net-zero requirements.

So far, £25m has been committed to repair the arts centre, with the full cost estimated at £451m, a sum not currently budgeted for.

It is expected that an additional £30m, on top of the £25m already committed, is needed to support "urgent" work.

A report notes the Barbican Centre scheme is among the major projects putting pressure on City finances.

It says the figure is an early estimate from a consultant.

Surveys on the works are expected by the spring, which will then inform a full business case.

The chief executive officer at the Barbican Centre, Claire Spencer, said it would be not possible to run the Barbican as an arts centre without further funding.

City of London Corporation deputy Henry Colthurst described the Barbican Centre scheme as the "elephant in the room" when it came to the City Fund budget.

£25m has already been committed to the project

It was also clarified at a Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday that the cost would be spread over the next 20 to 25 years.

On the £451m figure, a City of London spokesperson said: "It is a cultural cornerstone of our Destination City programme, enhancing the Square Mile's first-class arts and culture offer, and elevating our attractiveness as an international visitor destination.

"It is also one of the nation's most-admired post-war buildings. However, it is now over 40-years-old and, like all buildings, requires ongoing investment."

They added: "This figure is an early estimate from a consultant, based on delivering a programme of essential works, including repairing and replacing ageing building infrastructure, and meeting accessibility and net-zero requirements."

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