The Alexandra Park and Palace Consultative Committee met on Thursday 17 September 2026 to discuss progress reports on the Charitable Trust, the Summer Series events, and the Panorama Room replacement project. The meeting also covered planning and listed building consent applications for various site improvements.

Charitable Trust Progress Report

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust's progress for the financial year 2026/27. The report detailed achievements against the Trust's vision to Create a Sustainable Home for All That We Do. Key areas of focus included:

• Entertainment and Culture: Strong delivery of a diverse programme of concerts, theatre, exhibitions, and corporate events. Highlights included performances by Empire of the Sun, The Maccabees, Wet Leg, Super Furry Animals, Richard Ashcroft, and The Streets, as well as the Kaleidoscope Festival headlined by Rudimental. The Red Bull Soapbox Race also returned. The Theatre hosted a successful run of Malory Towers. Leisure activities like the Ice Rink and Boathouse continued to operate, with improvements planned for the Ice Rink facilities. The Summit Rooftop Experience was noted as an increasingly important year-round attraction. Preparations were underway for the Fireworks & Drone Festival in November 2026, and the PDC World Darts Championship was set to move into the Great Hall for the first time in December 2026.
• Climate Change Resilience: The Trust's ambition to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2041 was outlined, with a phased carbon reduction programme focusing initially on energy efficiency measures. Longer-term ambitions included renewable energy generation and heat decarbonisation, though these required significant external funding.
• Heritage Assets: Progress was being made on protecting heritage assets through maintenance and refurbishment projects, including a building-wide drone survey, the Great Hall Bridge project, and refurbishment of the Ice Rink mezzanine toilets. The Joint Control Room/Security Room project was nearing completion, and the EE infrastructure project was also progressing. The Great Hall's 'Toblerone' replacement project and the overhaul of its emergency lighting system were completed.
• Green Lung for London: Efforts to maintain biodiversity and enhance habitats in the 196-acre park were ongoing, with volunteer support playing a significant role. The Park had been awarded Green Flag status for 2026. Measures were also being taken to reduce fire risk following a fire in the composting area.
• Archives and Stories: The archive digitisation and storage project was progressing, with over 1,000 drawings and plans scanned. Archive volunteers continued to assist in preserving and improving access to materials.
• Community Engagement: Plans were in place for the 90th anniversary of BBC television at Alexandra Palace. Programmes for older people were adapted during the summer, and partnerships were developed for heritage and photography workshops, as well as youth engagement. The Alexandra Palace Performing Arts School was rebranding to Palace Performing Arts. Volunteer contributions were recognised, with specific projects including digitising archive material and park improvements. A new Events Management course for people who identify as disabled was set to launch in September.
• Resilience and Partnerships: Fundraising activity included a successful crowdfunding campaign for accessibility improvements in the Alexandra Park Wetlands. The Trust was also working to establish new partnerships for heritage skills training.
• Restoring Derelict Spaces: Design work was progressing for the Creative Campus project and the Panorama Room Replacement Project, with planning and listed building consent applications expected.

Summer Series Report

The committee was to review a report on the Alexandra Palace Summer Series 2026, detailing feedback from residents on the 2025 series and the operational improvements implemented for 2026. Key areas discussed included:

• Transport: Measures to manage taxi pick-up points, including a pilot scheme with Uber for geo-fencing residential streets. Discussions were planned with residents and Haringey Council regarding parking suspensions on The Avenue. A revised diversion route for the W3 bus was agreed with Transport for London to ensure fewer stops were missed. The report noted that responsibility for managing hire bikes, such as Lime bikes, rests with the operators.
• Event Operations: The use of white-noise warning systems on plant and machinery during the build and break phases was implemented to reduce noise disruption. A second entrance gate on the west side of the site was introduced to improve crowd management and reduce footfall on Dukes Avenue.
• Sound Management: Amplified sound levels were kept below the permitted threshold, with 46 noise complaints logged, none of which resulted in permitted levels being exceeded. An increase in complaints from parts of Muswell Hill was being reviewed. A post-event team was deployed to remind attendees to be considerate of neighbours.
• Piccadilly Line Closure: The closure of the Piccadilly line on the final event day created additional pressure on transport arrangements, which was raised with Transport for London.
• Crime and Police Presence: There was only one occasion where the Police were called to the site, indicating positive overall operation. A visible Metropolitan Police presence was maintained on each event day for reassurance.
• Site Cleaning: The cleaning team carried out full cleans across the event site and key egress routes. The report clarified that the management and clean-up of activity associated with customers of neighbouring businesses, such as The Starting Gate pub, was outside Alexandra Palace's responsibility.
• Wildflowers: Measures were taken to minimise the impact of security fencing on the wildflower area, with plans to reseed in a different location for 2027.
• Communication: A comprehensive communication campaign was in place, including leaflets, signage, emails, social media, and updates to resident committees. The team was reviewing additional communication methods.
• Safety Advisory Group Debrief: Feedback from the Safety Advisory Group, including representatives from the Metropolitan Police, Haringey Council Licensing, TfL, and Highways, was wholly positive.

Panorama Room Replacement Project Update

The committee was provided with an update on the Panorama Room Replacement Project, which aims to replace the existing temporary structure with a modern, fit-for-purpose facility. The report highlighted:

• Rationale for Replacement: The current Panorama Room, in operation since 2003, was failing and no longer fit for purpose. Replacement would improve sustainability, accessibility, reduce long-term maintenance, enhance structural performance, minimise interventions to the listed building, and ensure the continued operation of Alexandra Palace's commercial offer.
• Procurement and Design: StarLive was appointed as the Main Contractor, and design work commenced in early 2026.
• Planning and Listed Building Consent: A Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) was in place with Haringey Council to facilitate the submission of planning and listed building consent applications by 30 September 2026. The project includes conservation-approach repairs to historic basements, dismantling of the current structure, and erection of a new single-storey structure with integrated facilities.
• Funding: The project is expected to cost around £3.5m, with Alexandra Palace requesting a loan from Haringey Council. The loan servicing would be supported by increased revenue from the improved facilities. A loan application was to be submitted to Cabinet in December 2026.
• Risks and Challenges: Key risks included the potential refusal of planning and listed building consent, inability to make loan repayments, operational disruption, and unforeseen complexities during basement works. These risks were being managed through a project-wide Risk Register.
• Next Steps: A timeline was provided, with the target application submission date set for 30 September 2026, and a decision from the Local Planning Authority expected in January 2027. Construction was anticipated to begin in March 2027, with project completion in October 2027.

Statutory Approvals – Pipeline (Planning, Listed Building Consent and Advert Consent)

The committee was also to receive an update on the pipeline of projects requiring statutory approval. Several projects were in various stages of design and would require consent before delivery, subject to funding being secured. These included:

• Creative Campus and Heritage Hub: Phase 1: This project includes bringing the North East Office Building back into use as a Creative Learning hub, landscaping of the Theatre and NEOB Courtyard areas, and improvements to the Transmitter Hall. A Listed Building Consent application was planned for submission in November 2026.
• Visitor Experience Improvements Project (Toilets): This project aims to introduce new toilet facilities on the east side of the building to address consistent negative feedback on provision. A Listed Building Consent application was planned for submission in January 2027.
• West Yard Shutter Upgrade: This project involves replacing the existing single shutter with two smaller shutters for improved security and efficiency. A Listed Building Consent application was to be worked up and submitted by October 2026.

The report noted that funding for these projects was outside the current capital budget allocation, with the Creative Campus project seeking funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other trusts and foundations.