Somerset House for university campus - King's College unveils plans to annex wing of Grade 1-Listed building

Published: 12 February 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM

KING'S College London has unveiled plans to annex a wing of Somerset House more than 180 years after talks of the move were first mooted.

The university will transform five floors of the Grade I-listed building’s east wing into extra teaching space, to ease pressure on its cramped campus next door.

Under the proposal a bridge will be built to link the two historic buildings.

King’s will launch a £20million fundraising drive to renovate the wing and hopes the school of law, complete with 100 academics and 600 students, will move in by the end of 2011.

Under the deal, part of the wing’s ground floor will still be used as gallery space.

Somerset House was built in 1796 and was originally intended as government offices. The east wing has been vacant since March when staff from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs moved out.

Plans were expected to be signed off by Westminster’s planning committee last night (Thursday).

The planning application stated: “King’s College London is one of England’s oldest and most prestigious universities. The external bridge link is the most contentious element of the scheme in design terms and has been ­subject to considerable negotiation. The applicant is anxious that the bridge is clearly visible to students from King’s College, and have therefore favoured a bold architectural statement that is clearly a modern invention.”