Lambeth (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A 1960s Brixton office block in Lambeth will be redeveloped into a 341-room hotel and co-working hub, but a Nando’s restaurant and gym will be lost.
Blue Star House, an 11-story building at 234-244 Stockwell Road, will be renovated with further stories added after Lambeth council members approved the plans earlier this week.
The new structure will be much more prominent along Brixton’s skyline at its tallest point, which will be between 15 and 16 stories. The plans were unanimously accepted by Lambeth Council’s Planning Applications Committee on Tuesday night, December 9.
Blue Star House is regarded as having
“a dated appearance which does not contribute positively to the area”
by the developer, Derwent London. They went on to state:
“It is no longer suitable for modern office use for numerous reasons including low floor to ceiling heights, narrow column grids and poor energy efficiency standards.”
The property, which is across from O2 Brixton Academy, was purchased by Derwent London in January 2020 for £38.1 million. Both the on-site gym and the well-known Nando’s that has been there for many years are scheduled to close and won’t be replaced.
Planning authorities stated in a council document that there is no policy in place to safeguard restaurants and that the loss of the current gym would be “acceptable” because there are several other gyms “within walking distance” of the location.
The NHS, Housing for Women, Trees for Cities, Double Act, and Repowering London are among the other organizations that call the site home. Whether they have been included in redevelopment plans is unknown from municipal documentation.
The plans call for the partial demolition of the single-story buildings that currently front Stockwell Road and Stockwell Avenue in addition to the additional stories that will be constructed on top. Derwent London plans to construct a hotel lobby in their place, complete with a café and hotel access.
The proposals went on to state:
“The building would also be extended to the rear, with a nine-storey new-build element fronting both Bellefields Road and Stockwell Avenue proposed, that would include a stepped-design addressing Bellefields Road.”
Thirty-five of the hotel’s 341 rooms will be handicapped accessible, while “affordable” office space will make up “element” of the total. Five people objected to the plans during the public consultation phase. Brixton doesn’t need another hotel, according to one criticism, while another claimed it wasn’t appropriate for the neighborhood.
Another objection stated:
“Current building is full of companies and workers and there is a real shortage of office space in Brixton – where will they go. The companies currently in Blue Star House employ a lot of people and shouldn’t be evicted.”
In their response, planning officers said the loss of the office use was justified because of viability evidence, and said there is office space elsewhere in Brixton. Another objection stated:
“The proposal is too tall – the height of the proposed building would cause it to loom over Brixton High Street and the surrounding area, dominating the skyline unnecessarily.”
They said:
“The development offers significant community benefits. The creation of over 100 permanent jobs, alongside hundreds more during construction, represents a positive step for local employment.
The inclusion of affordable, flexible desk space will further support Brixton’s small businesses and startups, many of which struggle to access suitable workspaces.”
What is the timeline for Blue Star House hotel development?
Derwent London submitted a planning operation for Blue Star House in Q3 2025, with public consultations ongoing into late 2025 to upgrade profiles for the 341- room hostel and co-working hub. A Nando’s eatery and spa presently at tribune position will close to accommodate the changes; community consultations raised issues over business, noise, and affordable workspace retention, though itineraries emphasize profitable rejuvenescence benefits.
Still, obliteration ofnon-structural rudiments and construction of extensions could commencemid-2026, targeting hostel opening by late 2028 amid typical civic timelines for analogous Brixton systems, If approved by Lambeth Council in early 2026.
Pre-construction works like point checks and community feedback integration are prioritized post-submission, with full residency projected to induce profitable benefits within 3- 4 years of groundbreaking.