It is hoped that planning consent will be granted later this year with construction starting in 2027. Further phases will focus on renovating and modernising other parts of the Barbican site.

The Barbican is a bonafide London icon. So it’s good news that the 50-year-old brutalist behemoth’s Barbican Centre is getting a massive renovation, so it will be enjoyed for generations to come.

Whether you love or loathe the concrete geometry of the iconic Barbican estate, it tends to inspire strong ... and inspired by the fortress that used to stand here – both in name and its construction ...