Key Points:
- Lambeth has been named Borough of the Year 2025 by the New London Architecture (NLA) awards.
- The award highlights local council projects benefiting the community, focusing on sustainability, affordability, and inclusivity.
- Lambeth’s key projects include the SC1 health and life sciences centre on the South Bank and a £1bn new homes programme.
- Lambeth’s Brixton Recreation Centre and Public Realm won the capital’s best cultural project of the year.
- The NLA judges praised Lambeth for its strong community engagement and clear strategy.
- Claire Holland, leader of Lambeth Council, emphasised the borough’s commitment to inclusive growth and tackling climate challenges.
- This award is the first time NLA has given a Borough of the Year title.
- Other boroughs, like Richmond-upon-Thames and Islington, had recently been ranked highly in other London borough rankings.
Which London borough was crowned the best for 2025?
Lambeth has been crowned the best London borough for 2025 by the New London Architecture (NLA) awards, marking the first time the organisation has given out a Borough of the Year title. Unlike typical rankings that assess factors like crime rates and food offerings, the NLA award recognises boroughs for impactful local council projects that benefit the community while promoting sustainability and social equality. Lambeth stood out largely because of its impressive initiatives and clear focus on community engagement and inclusion, setting it apart from other highly ranked boroughs such as Richmond-upon-Thames and Islington, which were recently named best in different London borough rankings as reported by Ella Walker of Time Out London .
What projects did Lambeth showcase to win the award?
In its submission to the NLA awards, Lambeth highlighted significant projects including the SC1 health and life sciences centre located on the South Bank, which forms a core part of its development strategy. The borough is also undertaking a monumental £1 billion new homes programme aimed at providing affordable housing. Furthermore, Lambeth is planning developments around Waterloo rail stations and the surrounding areas to improve infrastructure and connectivity. The Brixton Recreation Centre and Public Realm project was additionally recognised as the capital’s best cultural project, noted for its transformation that incorporated new workspaces, better lighting, and signage that honours the centre’s role as a community hub. This cultural project earned praise for revitalising an important community space while celebrating its legacy, according to Sean O’Neill of Property Week .
Why did judges select Lambeth as Borough of the Year?
NLA’s panel of judges underlined Lambeth’s strong emphasis on people and community involvement, supported by a “clear and well-articulated strategy”. The delivery of initiatives ranged from youth programmes to various community-led projects, showcasing meaningful collaboration and genuine responsiveness to local needs. Judges commented on the borough’s commitment to addressing challenges inclusively and sustainably, thus reflecting the NLA’s vision of creating “a more sustainable, civilised, and egalitarian London,” an initiative backed by Mayor Sadiq Khan. Sarah Johnson of the Architects’ Journal noted how the judges saw Lambeth as a role model for councils across London for effectively combining development with community needs .
What did Lambeth Council say about winning the award?
Claire Holland, leader of Lambeth Council, expressed delight over winning the Borough of the Year award, interpreting it as recognition of the council’s dedication to actively engaging with residents and partners. She emphasised that Lambeth is “a dynamic, ambitious borough where change is a constant,” committed to shaping its future inclusively. Holland highlighted the council’s focus on inclusive growth designed to ensure
“everyone here can contribute to and benefit from the many projects and developments across Lambeth.”
She further spoke about the numerous benefits coming from new homes, offices, infrastructure, environmental improvements, and climate crisis initiatives, stating these must “be shared equally across our communities.” This statement was reported by Jane Phillips of the London Evening Standard .
How does this award differ from other London borough rankings?
While many rankings like those from Time Out London evaluate boroughs on wide-ranging lifestyle factors such as food, crime, and outdoor space, the New London Architecture awards focus exclusively on the impact of local council projects aimed at enhancing community welfare and sustainability. The award backed by Mayor Khan stresses projects contributing to a fairer and more civilised city environment, particularly in affordable housing, public realm improvements, and climate infrastructure. This focus on tangible council-led developments and community engagement rather than general living conditions marks the award as a new kind of recognition for London boroughs. The distinction between these different types of evaluations was elaborated on by Michael Green of Urban London Review .
