Bringing a historic building back to life with Tower Hamlets Town Hall

Adding value

Our specialist team were appointed as employer's agent, cost consultant and design guardian in 2018. From then on, we worked closely with the client, contractor and design team throughout RIBA stages 3-7.

Adding extra value to the project, we prepared the final employer’s requirements for inclusion in the main design and build contract, including the contract sum - £125m, managed the project risks within acceptable financial limits, and worked collaboratively with the Local Planning Authority and Historic England from early stages to navigate the challenges posed by the historic, Grade II listed building.

Building for future generations

Despite the many difficult challenges throughout the project, ranging from COVID-19 to industry inflationary pressures, our team played an instrumental role in bringing the borough's ambitious vision to life. All of which was delivered under tight timescales to ensure the client was able to vacate their previous office space and occupy the new building in a timely manner.

As a result, we have helped to create a building that not only delivers year-on-year operational savings, but also provides a new central hub and local presence for residents to discuss and access council services. Making better use of vacant sites to provide new housing will also help contribute to future regeneration of the wider area.

Open and accessible to its diverse and vibrant community the Town Hall will serve its local community for many years to come as the Royal London Hospital did.

Leading the project to bring this iconic building back into use is a career highlight for me and I am delighted with the outcome.

“It’s been a painstaking process to deliver the council’s objective and we have focused on the detail from start to finish. Not only that, we have had to work through huge challenges like Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis, but we have always found solutions and managed to keep the project on track.

It was during these times that our working relationship with Turner & Townsend was so vital. They helped us through the process and these challenging times.

Now our residents can access council services from one accessible building in the heart of the borough. The building looks fantastic and is a focal point for Whitechapel Road. Its impressive façade is improving the look and feel of the area, and I’ve seen first-hand how our staff are also benefitting from the location and the high-quality environment.”

Yasmin Ali,
Project Director Town Hall Delivery,
Tower Hamlets Council