London Fire Brigade scraps proposed extension to former Lambeth headquarters

The London Fire Brigade will submit plans designed by 5plus to refurbish its former Lambeth headquarters this summer but without a proposed newbuild extension.

The Brigade (LFB) had been planning to build a new four-storey extension to the grade II-listed Art Deco landmark at 8 Albert Embankment as part of plans to move its headquarters back into the building, where it was based for 70 years until 2007.

This extension has now been shelved following the scheme’s first round of public engagement last December. 

The decision follows the LFB’s announcement at the end of last year that it had scrapped a £500m redevelopment of the site designed by Pilbrow & Partners and closed a development agreement on the scheme with Landsec U&I.

Instead, it said it was pursuing a retrofit of the 1930s Art Deco building under plans designed by new lead architect 5plus.

The LFB said the proposed extension, which would contain fire station facilities, was still under consideration but would not be included in the current scheme’s planning application.

The proposals still include a refurbishment of an existing 1980s extension to the main fire station building, which would be transformed with a new facade of vertical fins.

The 1980s extension, the fire station’s former control room, would house a new exhibition space on its ground floor for the display of the LFB’s collection of more than 20,000 objects recording the history of firefighting in the capital from the Great Fire of London in 1666 to the present day.

The first two floors of the main building would be refurbished as fire station space with the upper floors of the 10-storey building being used as office space to house the brigade’s headquarters.

Construction of the scheme is scheduled to start in summer 2026 following a target committee date at Lambeth council this autumn, with the scheme expected to complete by the end of 2028.

Others currently working on the emerging proposals include heritage consultant Smith Jenkins, planning consultant Turley and community engagement consultant Kanda. It is currently unknown if the LFB is looking for a new development partner.

Pilbrow & Partners’ former proposals would have included two residential towers of 26 and 24 storeys on two sites to the rear of the Albert Embankment building. The LFB said any future plans for the two sites would be considered separately.

The Brigade was based at 8 Albert Embankment from its construction in 1937 until 2007 when it moved into new offices at 169 Union Street in Southwark, which were officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II the following year.

The Union Street lease comes to an end in March 2027 and the Brigade said it does not expect it to be renewed as it “does not meet LFB’s requirements into the future”.