Agenda item

To receive an update on the London Archives project

The Committee heard an update on the London Archives accommodation project that included the following information:

- the lease on the main premises at Northampton Road expires in 2035;

- a period of 5-7 years is required to plan and move the collections if a move is made;

- no option has yet been finalised;

- a project board has been formed to consider and examine the various issues and £150,000 (including £10k costed risk provision) of funding was secured from Finance Committee’s Contingency on 07 May 2024 to support that;

- the project is not currently attached to any other funding, and a bid to the transformation fund is being considered;

- various funding sources are being explored including National Lottery Heritage Fund bids;

- the future business model is being carefully explored including the potential addition of further storage space and commercial partnerships;  

- five modelling scenario options have been put together that describe varying proportions of the collection remaining onsite; and

- three companies have been invited to submit capability statements by late February 2025, and a pre-feasibility report is expected to be formulated by June 2025.