Plans have been approved for the refurbishment of London Fire Brigade’s historic headquarters at 8 Albert Embankment, paving the way for construction to begin shortly.
The Grade II-listed building will be brought back into full use as the Brigade’s headquarters, with completion targeted for 2029. Around 840 staff are expected to return to the building once the works are complete.
Willmott Dixon Interiors secured the preconstruction role earlier this year, taking the project through Stage 3 and 4 design ahead of the main refurbishment works. The Brigade said all key approvals are now in place for the phased overhaul of the 1937 Art Deco building.
The £80m project will restore six floors of vacant office accommodation above Lambeth Fire Station. The space served as the Brigade’s headquarters until its move to leased premises in Southwark in 2008.
The refurbishment will include the complete renewal of mechanical, electrical and public health systems, alongside new life safety installations, replacement windows and re-roofing. The building’s 1980s CMC extension will also be reclad.
New lifts, partitions, ceilings and internal finishes will form part of the works, together with refurbishment of the appliance bays and basement areas.
Lambeth Fire Station will temporarily close during construction, with its crews relocating to Clapham and Chelsea fire stations. The closure is provisionally expected to take place in winter 2026/27.
The station upgrade will provide new equipment stores and workspaces, refurbished firefighter accommodation and improved training facilities.
The project will also focus on retaining and restoring the building’s historic features. A publicly accessible heritage and learning space will be created around the Memorial Hall, which commemorates London firefighters who have lost their lives in service.
A community room will also be provided for local residents and groups, adding a new public-facing element to the refurbished headquarters.
