London Irish Centre appoints Sisk to build £36m-£38m Camden

• Major redevelopment backed by Irish Government entering new phase, following appointment of Sisk as main contractor
• The new London Irish Centre will be a flagship destination for Irish culture, support and enterprise
• Construction to begin in Q1 2027, with the new building set to open in early 2029

The London Irish Centre today announces that Sisk, one of Ireland and Britain’s leading construction groups, has been appointed as main contractor for the approximate £36-£38 million redevelopment of its home at 50-52 Camden Square.

Construction is expected to begin in January 2027, with the new centre scheduled to re-open in Q1, 2029 — the latest chapter in the story of an institution that has served the Irish community in Britain for over seventy years.

London Irish Centre Chair Rosaleen Blair commented: “Today’s announcement is a huge milestone, which follows almost ten years of careful planning. In Sisk, we have engaged a world-class builder to deliver a world-class home, that matches the aspirations of the Irish diaspora in Britain.

To date, we have secured pledges covering a meaningful proportion of the estimated £36-38 million redevelopment cost, an extraordinary demonstration of confidence by our donors. As we prepare for this exciting transformation, our task going forward is to secure the remainder of this total, which is vital in underwriting our future.”

The announcement was made today, following a visit to the Centre by Neale Richmond, Minister of State at the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Minister met with representatives from the London Irish Centre and Sisk, receiving a tour of the current building and reviewing the projected site map and redevelopment plans.

Ger Hayes, Managing Director, Sisk Construction UK said: “We are extremely proud to have been selected as main contractor and to be entrusted with the construction of the new London Irish Centre in Camden. The charity has provided a unique welfare hub for Irish diaspora in London for over 70 years. Together, with the team at LIC we will create a modern facility that celebrates this heritage and provides a lasting legacy for future generations.”

Neale Richmond, Irish Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said: “The London Irish Centre remains a dynamic support, welfare and cultural hub for the Irish in Britain. Our continued investment supports the ongoing delivery of these vital services and cultural activities.

“I was delighted to meet the team at the Centre this week and see the ambitious plans they have for the future of the Centre. The Government has allocated 6.75 million euro to the redevelopment of the London Irish Centre, including our most recent grant earlier this year of 3.4 million euro, which was the largest single investment ever made in an Irish diaspora organisation. This support reflects the commitments set out in Global Ireland 2025 and our new Diaspora Strategy to deepen our engagement with Irish communities overseas, particularly the most vulnerable members of our diaspora. The new centre will provide a welcoming and inclusive space for many more generations of Irish diaspora.”

The London Irish Centre opened its doors at Camden Square in 1955, founded to provide employment, accommodation support and social connection for newly arrived Irish immigrants in London. Today it is the oldest and largest Irish centre in Britain, serving as both a welfare anchor and a cultural institution.

In 2025 alone, the Centre welcomed 55,000 visitors for live events and cultural programming, helped more than 3,000 individuals with casework, secured £4.4 million in unclaimed benefits for the community, and served 10,000 meals to vulnerable clients.

Current patrons include singer Ed Sheeran and television personality Dermot O’Leary.

Transformation of the site
Having served its community for over 70 years in Camden Square, the London Irish Centre’s existing building no longer meets modern standards of accessibility, sustainability, or functionality.

Following a strategic review by the Centre’s Board of Trustees, the group has set out an ambitious agenda for the complete redevelopment of its site. Designed for the modern Irish community in Britain and all those drawn to Irish culture, the new building will be a world-class destination for Irish culture, community and enterprise enabling the Charity to have a greater impact, befitting the scale and contribution of the Irish in Britain.

• The new building, designed by Coffey Architects, will be laid out over three floors and include:
• A two-tiered, 400-seat (600-standing) multi-purpose performance space
• London’s first dedicated Irish theatre
• A state-of-the-art 130 seat raked studio theatre and cinema
• A heritage and archive centre preserving the history of the Irish in Britain
• A dedicated public library, housing the organisation’s collection of over 7,000 Irish literary works
• Modern community, enterprise, and learning spaces
• Accessible and dignified facilities for welfare and support services
• Café, social, and gathering spaces, including a 250-seat banqueting capacity
• A multi-level bar and social environment
• Dedicated spaces for artists, rehearsals, and creative collaboration
• The building will retain its original three-storey facade, with the Murray Street terrace being expanded from two storeys to three.

Outline planning permission for the redevelopment was granted in September 2020. Following a pause during the coronavirus pandemic, the project team was reconstituted in 2023 and final planning consent, including the Section 106 agreement, secured in May 2024. The tender process launched in late 2025 and concludes today with Sisk’s appointment.

The redevelopment is recognised within Ireland’s Diaspora Strategy 2026–2030, which sets out the Irish Government’s commitment to supporting Irish communities overseas. The London Irish Centre was the first organisation to receive annual Emigrant Support Programme funding in excess of one million, which is allocated towards its diverse service and programme offering. The Centre consistently ranks as the largest single recipient of the grant programme.

Continuity during construction
During the estimated two-year construction phase, the London Irish Centre will remain fully operational. Welfare and support services will continue from temporary offices local to Camden Square, while the cultural programme will run via partner venues across London, ensuring a full continuity of service for its community.

Séamus MacCormaic commented: “Our work is about the community we serve, and we are committed to delivering a world-class service during this period of transition.”

The redevelopment has been made possible by major support from the Irish Government and a wide range of private donors, with the Centre continuing to welcome further contributions toward the project.

To discuss fundraising and development opportunities, contact Séamus MacCormaic, CEO of the London Irish Centre: SeamusMacCormaic@londonirishcentre.org.

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Michael McDonnell Managing Editor of Irish Construction Industry Magazine & Plan Magazine
Email: michael@irishconstruction.com      WWW.MCDMEDIA.IE