Fire brigade makes third attempt at Albert Embankment development
After having two schemes knocked back at public inquiry, the London Fire Brigade's 15-year struggle to redevelop its former headquarters at Albert Embankment is entering a new phase.
Last month – during the national mourning period for the Queen – Mayor of London Sadiq Khan published a written answer to a question tabled by Anne Clarke AM, chair of City Hall's fire committee.
The Mayor said: "London Fire Brigade (LFB) was disappointed by the Secretary of State’s decision last year to refuse planning permission for 8 Albert Embankment and has since been considering its options for the site.
"This is a hugely complex site and there have been a number of attempts to develop it over the last decade.
"LFB remains in positive discussions with the developer, U+I, and hopes they can soon begin working on new plans that would secure the future of the much-needed new fire station and museum, alongside other benefits for those living locally.
"The London Fire Commissioner will update the Fire, Resilience and Emergency Planning Committee once he is in a position to provide further information."
Now a more detailed paper on the 'proposed way forward' for the Lambeth site has been published on the brigade's website.
"The U+I design team have reviewed the outcome of the planning inquiry and the recommendations of the planning inspector.
"This has resulted in reducing the impact on the listed building and reconsidering the commercial offering on the front site to maximise value where possible and adapt to a changing market.
"The planned proposal, compared to the previous scheme, reduces the scale of buildings on the front site (including changing the double height glass rooftop extension to single storey), reduces alterations to the rear elevation of the listed building and replaces the previous hotel facility with an office building on a smaller plot.
"This is more sympathetic to the listed building and improves the drill yard size for Lambeth Fire Station."
In the meantime the brigade has erected temporary scaffolding around the listed building on Albert Embankment and is working on measures to prevent it from deteriorating whilst a long-term development is agreed.
On the most optimistic timescale completion of the development is now slated for 2027, which would be a full two decades after the process began.
