Mayor clears Maritime Museum plans

By Rob Virtue on April 22, 2009 10:01 AM |

Tagged with:

The multi-million-pound expansion of the National Maritime Museum has received clearance from London Mayor Boris Johnson.

The Sammy Ofer Wing, which is planned to open by 2012 at a cost of £35million, has already been approved by Greenwich Council.

It is now just subject to the signing of a section 106 agreement related to the application.

The wing will offer a new south entrance to the museum, as well as adding substantially more space for exhibitions, an archive research centre, a cafe, brasserie and shop.

Giving the thumbs up to the plans, the Mayor's report stated: "In urban design terms it represents a significant improvement over the existing extension and would complement the setting of the listed building."

Councillors on the Greenwich planning committee had voted unanimously to grant planning permission at the end of February subject to referral to the Mayor of London as, under planning laws, constructions over 1,000sq m must be sent to the Mayor.

Following that approval it is now scheduled to open in time for the Olympics in 2012.

The proposed expansion is being part-funded by a £20m donation from shipping magnate and philanthropist Sammy Ofer.

Architect CF Moller has designed much of the 5,500sq metres of building work to be below ground level.

Listed building consent has also been granted for the works to take place.