8 Albert Embankment

8 Albert Embankment Pilbrow & Partners’ proposals for 8 Albert Embankment commissioned by U+I have been selected by London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) to deliver a major mixed-use masterplan on the Fire Brigades’ Headquarters’ site. This strategic site is located within the London Borough of Lambeth on the southern Embankment of the River Thames, on the stretch upstream from Waterloo and downstream from Vauxhall. The site covers an area of 1.06ha and benefits from excellent a public transport accessibility. 8 Albert Embankment is much more than the restoration of a Grade II riverside landmark. It is the tipping point for a forgotten neighbourhood in the beating heart of London and will draw mavens and adventurers looking for a piece of untrammelled London spirit. Combining a bespoke hotel and rooftop restaurant with a range of office spaces and retail, apartments and public space, plus a new museum and fire station, 8 Albert Embankment joins the dots to create a new destination capable of redrawing London’s cultural map. The scheme uniquely delivers a new fire station. Together with the new London Fire Brigade Museum, this will provide a major addition to London’s cultural offer with strong local education and public safety outreach initiatives. The scheme delivers space for over 1250 jobs across multiple sectors, 417 new homes including 142 affordable units. A hotel and rooftop restaurant overlooking the Embankment and Westminster contribute to the activation of the entire site and offer new public access to the historic areas of the listed building. The proposals include a transformation of the public realm with four proposed public spaces connected by new routes across the site linking the proposals into the wider context. The public realm is activated by retail, restaurant, and affordable workspace - reinforcing the emerging art district and commercial centre located along Newport St. Together, these assets turn a dilapidated and acknowledged underused area of the Embankment into a regenerated heart for Lambeth and its now appropriately named High St. The design followed an earlier proposed scheme by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands (LDS) for developer Native Land which was rejected in 2011. These proposals were dismissed by Lambeth Council because of concerns over scale and impact on the daylight of neighbouring properties. Our design approach has been shaped by a detailed understanding of the issues raised in the 2010 application scheme. We placed strong emphasis on ensuring improved levels of natural light to neighbouring properties and sought to achieve high levels of residential quality. We also emphasised the creation of significant new areas of public realm, as well as the provision of ‘doorstep’ play space to address the intensification of development, and thereby achieve the regeneration aspirations for the site as set out in statutory policy.