Great Suffolk Street sensory attraction gets the go-ahead

Harling House

Visitors to this unique exhibition will be encouraged to use senses other than their sight to take in their surroundings and communicate with those around them. A blind or partially sighted guide will lead visitors around a series of installations which replicate a boat ride on the Thames, a busy bar, a puzzle room, stands of a football stadium and a London street all experienced in total darkness. There will be additional activities such as workshops for schools and colleges, corporate teams and private groups.

The exhibition will provide much needed employment for blind and partially sighted people who will be employed, not just as guides, but throughout the building: in the café, school rooms, box office and in administration. Continued Killan UK Ltd, who is managing the project, is working closely with charities such as Action for Blind People as well as consultant June Bretherton on this aspect of the development.

"It is great news that planning permission has been granted and we are now pressing ahead to ensure that the exhibition is ready to open to the public early next year," says managing director Jonathan Landsman. "Dialogue in the Dark has already been to 17 cities worldwide and we are pleased to offer it its first permanent UK home."