The building was commissioned to serve as the administrative headquarters of the insurance business, Churchill Insurance.[1] The site the company selected was on the corner of Westmoreland Road and Bromley High street, just to the south of Bromley South railway station.[2]
The building was designed in the modern style, built in red brick and glass, and was completed in 1988.[1] The layout involved a semi-circular four-storey block, clad in red brick, and a taller tower block, clad in glass, behind. The tower block featured a recessed glass entrance in the northeast corner, accessible from Bromley High Street.[3]
Churchill Insurance was acquired by Royal Bank of Scotland Group in June 2003,[4] and was integrated into Direct Line Group when Direct Line Group was demerged from Royal Bank of Scotland Group in October 2013.[5] The building then became the headquarters of Direct Line Group.[6]
In May 2023, Direct Line Group announced that it would be relating to Riverbank House in the City of London.[7] This left Churchill Court vacant and Bromley London Borough Council decided to take the opportunity to sell its Grade II listed offices at Bromley Palace, which needed extensive refurbishment,[8][9] and acquire Churchill Court instead.[10][11]
After the completion of an extensive programme of refurbishment works, which included the creation of new public areas, a council chamber and a mayoral suite as well as external landscaping,[12] the council moved into Churchill Court in December 2024.[13] It has said that it intends to rent out any surplus space in its new headquarters.[14]
.jpg)
