Stephen Browning and Rob Colley were commissioned by the National Gallery in 2018 to carry out a feasibility study and masterplan review for St Vincent House – exploring the potential to link this space to the main building and create a new suite of galleries for visiting exhibitions.
The result: the National Gallery has since raised over £375 million towards their redevelopment plans, unlocking a transformative expansion of their exhibition spaces and collection facilities.
Scope of the feasibility study
Working closely with the Gallery’s Executive Team, the strategic planning process examined how the proposed redevelopment could enable larger and more frequent special exhibitions – and modelled the implications across the wider estate.
Key areas assessed included:
- Spatial and usage options for St Vincent House
- The potential impact of redevelopment across the wider estate
- Visitor numbers, opening hours, catering, retail, security, and ticket revenue
- Requirements for enhanced education facilities
- A world-class Research Centre and creative co-working spaces
- The National Gallery’s relationship with Trafalgar Square, and opportunities to strengthen connections with Leicester Square and the wider West End
A platform for long-term growth
This project is a strong example of how a rigorous feasibility study can provide the evidence base cultural organisations need to attract significant investment and move ambitious development plans forward with confidence.
Interested in how a feasibility study could support your organisation’s development plans?
Find out how we approach feasibility studies
