Lambeth wins big – Borough of the year and more
Lambeth has been named Borough of the Year at the 2025 NLA Awards, supported by the Mayor of London, recognising a year of significant delivery across housing, affordable workspace, sustainability and the borough’s priority growth sectors.
The award reflects Lambeth’s ongoing commitment to shaping places that are equitable, sustainable and designed with communities. Judges praised the borough’s clear strategy for inclusive growth (much of which is set out in our Growth Plan) and the depth of collaboration with residents, partners and the built environment sector.
Projects driving the recognition
Revitalising Brixton Recreation Centre
Winner of the Culture – built category, the project, delivered with muf architecture/art, has transformed the Rec’s public realm and internal spaces. It now provides:
- new affordable workspace (home to Photofusion and The Advocacy Academy)
- enhanced community facilities
- new street trees and Sustainable Drainage Systems
- heritage lighting and signage
- a community Wall of Fame and support for local traders
This work strengthens Brixton’s social, cultural and economic identity, aligning closely with our Growth Plan priorities for place-led regeneration.
Future Workspace Fund
Lambeth’s Future Workspace Fund continues to be a major driver of investment and innovation across the borough, creating modern, affordable spaces for businesses and supporting the jobs of the future. So far, the programme has delivered:
- 81,981 sq ft of new workspace
- 1,246 businesses supported
- 2,241 jobs supported
The Fund has backed some of Lambeth’s most exciting projects, including the Old Vic’s new Backstage building, ASC Studios, Sustainable Ventures – now Europe’s largest cleantech incubator – and Rambert Works, the new co-working and creative workspace on London’s South Bank created for the dance and wider creative sector.
Together, these projects are creating high-quality space for businesses in growth sectors and helping secure new jobs and opportunities within Lambeth’s economy.
SC1 London – health and life sciences innovation
Our strategic partnership between Lambeth and Southwark is accelerating investment in people, skills and innovation. Highlights include:
- ‘My Life Science’, a pioneering careers pathway programme delivered with London Institute for Healthcare Engineering, We Rise and The Brixton Project
- new opportunities across research, STEM and health-tech, positioning the borough at the heart of a growing sector
New Homes Programme
With a value of more than £1 billion, Lambeth’s New Homes Programme is delivering genuinely affordable, sustainable housing for local residents, supporting mixed and thriving neighbourhoods.
Cllr Claire Holland, Leader of Lambeth Council, said:
- “We are delighted to have won this award because it acknowledges our commitment to working with residents and partners to shape change in our borough.
Lambeth is a dynamic, ambitious place where change is constant, and our responsibility is to ensure that everyone can contribute to and benefit from that progress. Whether we are delivering new homes, workspace, climate infrastructure or improvements to public spaces, the opportunities they create jobs, skills, security and wellbeing, must be shared across all our communities.”
A foundation for future growth
Together, these projects demonstrate the scale and direction of Lambeth’s economic ambition, work that mirrors the commitments set out in the Lambeth Growth Plan to create vibrant town centres, strengthen growth sectors, expand opportunity and deliver sustainable neighbourhoods.
Thank you to everyone across Lambeth who has played a part in this achievement.