The London Irish Centre has appointed Sisk, one of Ireland and Britain's leading construction firms, as the main contractor for the £36–£38 million transformation of its home at 50–52 Camden Square.

Work is due to start in early 2027 and the centre is planned to reopen in Q1 2029, marking a major step forward for an institution that has supported the Irish community in Britain for more than seven decades.

London Irish Centre Chair Rosaleen Blair commented: "Today's announcement is a huge milestone, which follows almost ten years of careful planning. In Sisk, we have engaged a world-class builder to deliver a world-class home, that matches the aspirations of the Irish diaspora in Britain.

To date, we have secured pledges covering a meaningful proportion of the estimated £36-38 million redevelopment cost, an extraordinary demonstration of confidence by our donors. As we prepare for this exciting transformation, our task going forward is to secure the remainder of this total, which is vital in underwriting our future."

The announcement followed a visit to the Centre by Neale Richmond, Minister of State at the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, who met representatives from the London Irish Centre and Sisk, toured the existing building and reviewed site plans for the redevelopment.

Ger Hayes, Managing Director, Sisk Construction UK said: "We are extremely proud to have been selected as main contractor and to be entrusted with the construction of the new London Irish Centre in Camden. The charity has provided a unique welfare hub for Irish diaspora in London for over 70 years. Together, with the team at LIC we will create a modern facility that celebrates this heritage and provides a lasting legacy for future generations."

Neale Richmond, Irish Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said: "The London Irish Centre remains a dynamic support, welfare and cultural hub for the Irish in Britain. Our continued investment supports the ongoing delivery of these vital services and cultural activities.

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"I was delighted to meet the team at the Centre this week and see the ambitious plans they have for the future of the Centre. The Government has allocated 6.75 million euro to the redevelopment of the London Irish Centre, including our most recent grant earlier this year of 3.4 million euro, which was the largest single investment ever made in an Irish diaspora organisation. This support reflects the commitments set out in Global Ireland 2025 and our new Diaspora Strategy to deepen our engagement with Irish communities overseas, particularly the most vulnerable members of our diaspora. The new centre will provide a welcoming and inclusive space for many more generations of Irish diaspora."

Founded in 1955 to provide employment support, accommodation assistance and social connection for new Irish arrivals in London, the London Irish Centre is now the oldest and largest Irish centre in Britain, combining welfare provision with a rich cultural programme. In 2025 alone it hosted 55,000 attendees at live events, assisted more than 3,000 people with casework, helped secure £4.4 million in unclaimed benefits for the community and served 10,000 meals to vulnerable clients. Current patrons include singer Ed Sheeran and television personality Dermot O'Leary.

The existing Camden Square premises no longer meet modern standards of accessibility, sustainability or functionality. Following a strategic review by the Board of Trustees, the Centre has set out plans for a comprehensive redevelopment to create a world-class destination for Irish culture, community and enterprise, enabling greater impact commensurate with the Irish community's contribution in Britain.

Designed by Coffey Architects, the new three-storey building will feature a two-tier, 400-seat (600-standing) multipurpose performance space; what is billed as London's first dedicated Irish theatre; a state-of-the-art, 130-seat raked studio theatre and cinema; a heritage and archive centre preserving the story of the Irish in Britain; a dedicated public library housing more than 7,000 Irish literary works; modern community, enterprise and learning spaces; accessible and dignified welfare facilities; café, social and gathering areas with a 250-seat banqueting capacity; a multi-level bar; and dedicated spaces for artists, rehearsals and creative collaboration. The original three-storey facade will be retained, and the Murray Street terrace will be extended from two to three storeys.

Outline planning permission was granted in September 2020. After a pandemic-related pause, the project team was re-formed in 2023 and secured final planning consent, including the Section 106 agreement, in May 2024. The tender launched in late 2025 and has now concluded with Sisk's appointment.

The redevelopment is recognised within Ireland's Diaspora Strategy 2026–2030, reflecting the Government's commitment to support Irish communities overseas. The London Irish Centre was the first organisation to receive more than one million in annual Emigrant Support Programme funding and remains the programme's largest single recipient.

Operations will continue throughout the anticipated two-year construction period. Welfare and support services will be delivered from temporary offices near Camden Square, while the cultural programme will run at partner venues across London to maintain uninterrupted service for the community.

Séamus MacCormaic commented: "Our work is about the community we serve, and we are committed to delivering a world-class service during this period of transition."

The project is being made possible through significant support from the Irish Government alongside a wide range of private donors, and the Centre continues to welcome further contributions toward the redevelopment.