The Twentieth Century Society has launched a fresh campaign to have Londons Southbank Centre listed, the latest move in a 35-year saga The conservation campaign group describes the centre, designed by the London County Council Special Works Group in the 1960s, as a post-war architectural masterpiece and the last post-war building on Londons South Bank to remain unlisted.The Brutalist riverside arts centre incorporates the Hayward Gallery, Purcell Rooms and Queen Elizabeth Hall. It has already been refused listed status four times by successive cultural secretaries since 1991.According to the society, Historic Englands (formerly English Heritage) recommendations have been consistently rejected by the secretary of state.AdvertisementExplaining its reasons for refusal in 2018, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) wrote: The buildings architecture is not unique or groundbreaking and is poorly resolved in termsof its relationship to the site, its coherence, and its accessibility in comparison to the RoyalFestival Hall and the National Theatre. Source: HUFTON + CROWSouthbank Centre as refurbished by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios with Archer Humphryes ArchitectsFollowing that refusal, architectural historian Otto Saumarez-Smith tweeted then-culture secretary, Matt Hancock, to complain that his decision was absurd and disgraceful. The Victorian Society echoed the sentiment, accusing the government of threatening the integrity of the listing system with the absurd decision.The latest listing bid was triggered after a certificate of immunity from listing the centre issued by the DCMS in February 2020 expired yesterday (5 February).The Southbank Centre organisation, which operates the complex, is known to be opposed to listing the centre according to the Twentieth Century Society.But the society insists that the centre, once voted Britain's ugliest building, now warrants protection as perhaps the most totemic and controversial example of British Brutalism in the country.AdvertisementThis visionary combination of performance spaces and art gallery is a post-war architectural masterpiece, and is perhaps the most totemic and controversial example of British Brutalism, currently in the spotlight thanks to the Oscar nominated film of the same name, it said.Director Catherine Croft said the Southbank Centre unquestionably meets all the relevant criteria for listing, a move she argues would send out a positive message about our Brutalist heritage more generally, and encourage the appreciation and sustainable reuse of other outstanding examples across the country.Croft added: This is the building which often prompts the response: I cant believe its not listed. It is an internationally recognised Brutalist masterpiece, long loved by aficionados and now increasingly understood and respected by the wider public.The recent restoration has revitalised the inspirational interiors, and were confident listing would not impede any future programming or maintenance.Because a certificate of immunity was in place for the building, the society was consulted by Historic England last month on whether the certificate should be renewed for a further five years. It took the opportunity to argue strongly that it should, in fact, be listed.The Southbank Centre was designed in the 1960s by the London County Council Special Works Group which included Warren Chalk and Ron Herron of Archigram. Daily Mail readers voted the centre Britain's ugliest building when it was completed in 1967.The Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room and Hayward Gallery allreopened in 2018after a two-year refurbishment led byFeilden Clegg Bradley Studios. Source: Hufton + CrowSouthbank Centre following its refurbishment by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios2025-02-06Anna Highfieldcomment and share