Museum space may be cut for more student rooms

A proposal to increase the number of student rooms in a new City of London building could result in less space for the Migration Museum than originally planned.

The museum, which explores how movement to and from the UK shapes the nation, was offered a permanent, rent-free home for 60 years at 65 Crutched Friars under a scheme by developer Dominus.

Approved in 2023, the 21-storey development was set to feature three floors for the museum alongside 769 student rooms.

However, a proposed amendment filed with the City of London Corporation seeks to replace the museum's second-floor space with 33 additional student rooms, alongside internal layout changes to the ground and first floors.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands the changes aim to enable Dominus to contribute to the museum's fit-out amid a challenging fundraising environment.

One local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed disappointment.

They said: "The original planning permission was justified in part by the significant public benefit of the Migration Museum.

"If a key public benefit that helped secure planning permission is being diminished, the planning committee should carefully reconsider whether the overall planning balance still justifies the scheme."

They added that the conservation area only had around 350 permanent residents, but the number of hotels and purpose-built student accommodation developments in the immediate vicinity had "increased dramatically".

A spokesperson for Dominus said the proposals were developed closely with the museum "to secure the long-term deliverability, operational effectiveness and financial sustainability of its permanent home".

They added that the plans "allow us to make a substantial contribution toward the fit-out, accelerating the delivery of cultural space at 65 Crutched Friars" while addressing student accommodation shortages.

Chief executive at the Migration Museum, Laurie Boult, said a challenging macroeconomic environment had altered the fundraising landscape.

She said the new proposal would deliver a museum across two floors that is 50% larger than its previous Lewisham home, accommodating an estimated 140,000 visitors a year.

"This application would enable Dominus to contribute substantially toward the fit-out, giving us the certainty to deliver our permanent home on a stronger financial footing and with greater operational efficiency – allowing us to focus investment where it matters most: on the visitor experience," she added.

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