The former Home Office headquarters in Croydon is set to undergo a major transformation, with plans in place to convert the two buildings into residential flats, providing housing for hundreds of new residents. The move comes after the Home Office relocated its more than 5,000 employees from Lunar House and Apollo House to a new site in East Croydon.
The two Brutalist towers at 36 Wellesley Road have long been associated with the country’s immigration system and have been the site of many protests over the years. The visible security detail at the front entrances was a common sight for many new arrivals into the UK who had to visit the buildings to progress their immigration cases, including asylum applications.
The new site at 2 Ruskin House is now home to the 5,000 employees in what is being called a ‘Government Hub’, joining other new developments around East Croydon station, such as the HM Revenue and Customs offices at 1 Ruskin Square.
Plans for the conversion of Apollo House and Lunar House were initially proposed back in 2015 but did not move forward at the time. The new plans from Singaporean investor Ho Bee Land include turning Lunar House into 420 flats and Apollo House into 208 flats. A full planning application with more detailed design information is expected to be submitted soon.
This conversion project is part of a larger trend of turning office spaces into residential units in London. The introduction of Permitted Development rights in 2013 has made it easier for such conversions to take place without the need for full planning permission. With an estimated 12.9 million square feet of unused office space in the East and South East of England, it is likely that this trend will continue in the future.
In addition to the conversion of the former Home Office headquarters, plans have also been announced to convert the iconic Number One Croydon office building into 250 flats, further contributing to the changing landscape of the area. As the city continues to evolve and grow, these types of projects are expected to play a significant role in providing much-needed housing options for residents.
