StarAlliance needs LHR to be a hub, I believe that was one of the motives for bmi becoming a member of StarAlliance in the firstplace.
I would think, and like to think, that bmi's routes will be developed at LHR so that it becomes a real hub unlike the current mini-hub for destinations mid-east; the bmi brand being used to differentiate themselves as the hub-owner and the StarAlliance partners being feeder flight to either compliment or add different routes throughout European.