The National Army Museum could get bigger, as plans have been shown off for a new extension underneath its carpark and a new public garden to be created, as part of an agreement with a neighbouring property development.

The extension would be included as part of a housing development next to the museum that aims to replace a rather tired 1970s block of flats with something more fitting for the area.

Property developer London Square bought the former St. Wilfred’s Care Home and Convent block of flats in March 2024 and, since this time, has been engaging with the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, neighbours and community groups on the developing proposals.

Their intention is to redevelop the site with 46 replacement homes in a block of flats that have been designed by Assael Architecture, incorporating design cues and materials from Tite Street’s existing heritage, including Edward William Godwin’s original design for 44 Tite Street.

The development will also include an expansion of the neighbouring National Army Museum.

The museum currently has a small car park between its main building and the 1970s flats. The plan is that as the new flats will include a basement, this will be expanded under the museum’s car park during the building works.

That would allow the museum to expand into the new basement, opening up more space for galleries and exhibitions.

The National Army Museum confirmed to ianVisits in a statement that London Square will build the extension to an agreed specification before handing it over to them to complete the fit-out of the internal spaces. The museum will release details of fundraising opportunities and future plans for the fit-out of the space later, subject to getting planning permission.

Although specifics aren’t finalised at this stage, preliminary suggestions are that the museum’s basement extension, might include a new auditorium for lectures, an additional gallery for displays, and some useful office space for staff and meeting rooms.

After the museum expansion is built under the car park, the ground level wont return to being a private carpark but will be relandscaped as a new public garden. Guided by leading garden designer and landscape architect Andy Sturgeon, the new garden will be completed by London Square and then managed by the National Army Museum.

The proposed Museum Garden will be open from 7am to 7pm and will be open to members of the public, provding a much needed area of public green space in the south of Kensington and Chelsea.

In summary, in exchange for the developer’s approval to redevelop the block of flats, the museum gets an extension, and the public get a new pocket park.

The proposals for the museum extension and the residential development are currently in pre-planning consultation. Once that’s completed, the developer, London Square, expects to be able to submit a formal planning application in late Spring / early Summer 2025, and if approved, construction work could start as soon as later this year.