RIBA Planning application approved for 66 Portland Place refurbishment

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) announces that they have received Planning and Listed Building consents from Westminster City Council for the refurbishment works at 66 Portland Place being undertaken as part of the House of Architecture Programme.

RIBA Stage 4 design is now underway with the intention of enabling works starting in the autumn and the main contract works early 2026.

Focused on modernising the building to be fit for the future, the refurbishment plans include:

• a new fully accessible level entrance on Weymouth Street into a destination café with south facing pavement side tables outside and a full length model rack inside to celebrate the work of RIBA Members
• a permanent exhibitions space showing highlights from RIBA Collections
• improved events spaces
• a relocated shop
• improvements to the building’s accessibility, fire safety, services infrastructure, environmental performance, health and safety, and facilities

RIBA Chair of Board of Trustees, Jack Pringle said: “Another landmark moment in our transformative House of Architecture programme, following an extensive and hugely positive consultation with Westminster City Council, Historic England, Twentieth Century Society, and numerous local stakeholders including our freeholder Howard de Walden.

“This sensitive, essential refurbishment and restoration of 66 Portland Place in London will make it more accessible, functional, sustainable, and welcoming.

“We’d like to thank Benedetti Architects, Newmark, and the other consultants for their hard work getting to this point.”