Project Overview
Description
The Anti-Apartheid Legacy: Centre of Memory and Learning is a £3.5 million National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported project transforming a long-vacant retail building at 28 Penton Street, Islington into a nationally significant museum, archive, learning space and community venue. The building served as the UK headquarters of the Anti-Apartheid Movement, where figures including Oliver Tambo, Thabo Mbeki and Dulcie September coordinated the global campaign to end apartheid. It was bombed in March 1982. The new centre, led by the Liliesleaf Trust, restores it to active public use for the first time since 1982.
antiapartheidlegacy.org.uk
Our role
Capital project management and client-side coordination throughout development and delivery stages
Management of National Lottery Heritage Fund requirements, reporting and compliance across development and delivery stages
Programme management and coordination of design team, client team and other stakeholders
Cost, risk and change control throughout the project lifecycle
Contractor procurement and appointment
Ongoing monitoring of construction progress, cost and quality.
Scope and Outcomes
Images shown are design visuals, final images to follow.
Project Details
The project involves the comprehensive redevelopment of a historically significant retail building, severely damaged by bombing in 1982 and subsequently left to deteriorate, into a high-quality cultural venue designed to engage diverse audiences. The four-storey scheme includes a new step-free accessible entrance, a permanent exhibition gallery exploring the history of the building and the South African liberation struggle, an education and research archive with library and digital workstations, flexible seminar and workshop space, affordable workspace for up to eight occupants, and a ground-floor café and retail area. The design was developed through an extensive co-design process with local communities, including young people, the South African diaspora and Islington residents.
Funding and Programme
The project is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, with development and delivery stage funding. Construction is complete, with the centre due to open to the public in summer 2026.
Key Outcomes
Transformation of a long-vacant historic building into a nationally significant cultural and educational venue
Improved public accessibility, including a step-free entrance at street level and enhanced access throughout the building where practicable.
Successful management through NLHF development and delivery stages
Delivery of dedicated spaces for community learning, engagement and interpretation
Full list of funders
National Lottery Heritage Fund
Greater London Authority – Good Growth Fund
London Borough of Islington
Garfield Weston Foundation
This Day
City Bridge Foundation (City of London)
Clothworkers' Foundation
Joffe Charitable Trust
Heritage Compass
University of East Anglia
Sol Plaatje Educational Project
Portal Trust
London Metropolitan University
Charities Aid Foundation
HMRC Gift Aid
Pilgrim Trust
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Behrens Foundation
School for Social Entrepreneurs
