Sisk has been named main contractor for the redevelopment of the London Irish Centre, backed by significant funding from the Irish government and private donors.
The London Irish Centre (LIC) has announced the appointment of Sisk as the main contractor for the approximate £36m to £38m redevelopment of its historic home at 50–52 Camden Square. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2027, with the new facility expected to open in early 2029—marking the next chapter for an institution that has served the Irish community in Britain for over 70 years.
London Irish Centre
Founded in 1955 to provide employment, accommodation support, and social connection for newly arrived Irish immigrants, the LIC is the oldest and largest Irish centre in Britain. Today, it functions as both a crucial welfare anchor and a vibrant cultural venue.
In 2025 alone, the Centre welcomed 55,000 visitors for live events and cultural programming, assisted more than 3,000 individuals with casework, secured £4.4m in unclaimed benefits for community members, and served 10,000 meals to vulnerable clients.
High-profile patrons include singer Ed Sheeran and television personality Dermot O’Leary.
Despite its history, the existing site no longer meets modern standards of accessibility, sustainability, or functionality. Following a strategic review by the Board of Trustees, the organisation commissioned Coffey Architects to design a purpose-built complex over three floors. The redevelopment will retain the original three-storey façade while expanding the Murray Street terrace from two to three storeys.
The new building will feature London’s first dedicated Irish theatre, a two-tiered 400-seat (600-standing) multi-purpose performance space, a 130-seat studio theatre and cinema, and a heritage and archive centre. Additional amenities include a public library housing over 7,000 Irish literary works, modern community and enterprise spaces, accessible welfare facilities, a multi-level bar, dedicated creative studio spaces, and banqueting capacity for up to 250 guests.
Project milestone
The project milestone follows a visit to the Centre by Neale Richmond, Minister of State at the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The government has allocated €6.75m toward the redevelopment, including a recent €3.4m grant – the largest single investment ever made in an Irish diaspora organisation.
Rosaleen Blair, Chair of the London Irish Centre, 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.”
Ger Hayes, Managing Director of Sisk Construction UK, added: “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 emphasised the strategic importance of the investment: “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. I was delighted to meet the team at the Centre this week and see the ambitious plans they have for the future. The government has allocated €6.75m to the redevelopment, including our most recent grant of €3.4m, 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. The new centre will provide a welcoming and inclusive space for many more generations of Irish diaspora.”
Outline planning permission was granted in September 2020. Following a pause during the pandemic, the project team reconstituted in 2023, securing final planning consent and the Section 106 agreement in May 2024. The formal tender process launched in late 2025 and concluded with Sisk’s appointment.