Hammerson has submitted plans for a major new façade at Brent Cross, signalling the latest chapter for the iconic London destination celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. Originally developed by Hammerson in 1976 as the UK’s first purpose-built enclosed retail destination, Brent Cross has been at the forefront of retail for five decades. Now, with full ownership secured in 2025, Hammerson is focusing on a long-term vision to position the destination for the next 50 years.
Brent Cross is a landmark for London at a pivotal location with over 30 million cars passing and over 11 million visitors each year. The proposed façade work is designed to deliver a contemporary, high-impact frontage to reflect the scale of transformation, and signals Brent Cross’s future direction. It will:
- Create a cleaner, more cohesive and recognisable frontage
- Introduce new, integrated signage aligned with Brent Cross’s refreshed brand
- Enhance visibility and arrival experience, day and night
- Reinforce its position as a leading London retail, leisure and community destination
The design has been developed with a specialist team known for delivering high-profile projects across global cities, ensuring Brent Cross remains distinctive and competitive on a global stage. Hammerson is targeting delivery later in 2026 to coincide with the 50th anniversary, celebrating Brent Cross’s heritage while clearly signalling its future.
Hammerson continues to work with the London Borough of Barnet on its ongoing investment plans, ensuring important alignment with the borough’s wider regeneration goals for the area. Hammerson will now engage with stakeholders, local partners and the community as part of the planning process.
Harry Badham, Chief Development Officer at Hammerson, said: “Brent Cross has always set the standard for retail destinations in the UK. It’s a London original, and as we mark its 50th anniversary we’re focused on ensuring it remains relevant and successful for decades to come. This new façade is a highly visible statement of that ambition — building on the significant investment we’ve already made to create a modern, dynamic destination for customers and brands alike.”
Long-term investment, long-term commitment
The planned façade forms part of Hammerson’s broader strategy to invest in and grow its flagship destinations. Having owned and managed Brent Cross since its inception and completion in 1976, Hammerson’s full acquisition in 2025 has unlocked further investment, enabling an ambitious and accelerated programme of improvements.
Over the past five years, Brent Cross has benefited from over £20m of investment, transforming its offer to meet evolving customer expectations and attract leading global brands. This includes a comprehensively upgraded internal environment and customer experience as well as major brand investments.
New food, leisure and entertainment experiences have also been added, including TeamSport with go-karting and bowling which opened last month. It follows the launch of District last year, a vibrant destination in its own right for independent and international street food concepts.