A new scale-up space for science and technology ventures, One Portal Way, Old Oak, will assist to alleviate London’s scarcity of inexpensive lab space.
Imperial College London is launching a new scale-up space for science and technology ventures, One Portal Way, Old Oak, serving to to alleviate London’s scarcity of inexpensive lab space and enabling quickly rising companies to stay in London as they scale.
This new facility not solely addresses the scarcity of inexpensive specialist lab space in London, which threatens to maintain again the expansion of the UK’s science and tech sectors, significantly for startups trying to scale. It additionally creates a particular provide which permits direct connection and help from the world’s main STEMB college, giving rising companies an unrivalled alternative to develop at tempo.
One Portal Way, Old Oak will reinvent an present constructing into 55,000 sq ft of totally fitted lab and workplace space, prepared to occupy by a group of up to 30 scale-ups in mid-2026. The new facility is a part of Imperial’s Old Oak Campus, which brings collectively business areas for innovation-led companies and lodging for greater than 1,500 Imperial undergraduate college students, workers and key employees.
Imperial is partnering with Sciopolis – specialists in versatile, ready-to-occupy lab and workplace space – to develop and function the space. Occupiers will profit from the help of Imperial Incubator, the college’s dwelling for early-stage lab-based corporations, who will present on-site help and facilitate connections to Imperial’s innovation ecosystem.
Catalysing the transformation of Old Oak
Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial, stated: “The UK, and London specifically, is exceptional at discovery science – but we risk becoming a place where great ideas are born, but cannot grow. One of the most urgent challenges is the lack of specialist, affordable lab and grow-on space. Our new innovation facility in Old Oak is a direct response to this challenge, a flexible, ready-to-use space that combines top-tier lab infrastructure with connection to a global university, creative industries, manufacturing capability and exceptional local, national and international transport connections.”
Sciopolis CEO, Charlie Mitchell, stated: “We know how challenging it is for startups and scaleups to secure suitable and affordable laboratory space. Speed is of the essence, as many ventures are being held back by the lack of grow-on infrastructure, which is why we are partnering with Imperial and other landlords to rapidly convert well-located, unused office and industrial space into innovation hubs with labs, amenities, and support. These spaces are designed to act as catalysts, attracting innovators and quickly building vibrant communities. One Portal Way, Old Oak is a prime example: a building bursting with potential to transform an area and launch a new chapter for Imperial in Old Oak.”
Imperial’s One Portal Way, Old Oak will catalyse the transformation of Old Oak, inside London’s largest regeneration zone, and play a task in supporting the main improvement pipeline for the native space which is being led by OPDC with the shut involvement of different strategic companions together with Ealing Council. From 2030 onwards, the broader space will profit from the Old Oak Common Station superhub, which is ready to be the UK’s best-connected rail interchange with HS2, the Elizabeth line, Great Western Main Line and Heathrow Services.
Imperial’s Old Oak Campus is already properly related to central London and the UK by way of the Elizabeth line, central line and A40, and adjoining to Park Royal, the UK’s largest industrial space which is dwelling to c.1,700 enterprise and helps over 40,000 jobs. Old Oak Campus is lower than 10 minutes from Imperial’s White City Deep Tech Campus.
WestTech London
Located on the coronary heart of WestTech London, the creation of One Portal Way, Old Oak ignites Imperial’s plans for the long-term transformation of its belongings within the Old Oak space and helps its dedication to make West London the science and technology progress engine for the UK.
WestTech London is an rising innovation ecosystem that may turn into a globally recognised powerhouse for funding, financial progress and job creation, cementing the UK’s place as a frontrunner in science and technology. WestTech London is bringing collectively trade, buyers, universities, NHS trusts, native authorities, builders and authorities to gasoline innovation and drive international affect.
OPDC’s Chief Executive David Lunts says: “OPDC’s regeneration of Old Oak will create a revitalised city district for West London, bringing main new funding into the native economic system alongside 1000’s of new jobs, inexpensive properties and remodeled public realm. Old Oak will ship over 8,000 new and inexpensive properties, 6 acres of inexperienced open space and up to 2m sq ft of workspace. We are delighted to see the progress our companions at Imperial are making with the much-needed new inexpensive lab and workplace space at One Portal Way, placing Old Oak firmly on the map as an innovation hub within the coronary heart of West London.”
Ealing Council’s Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, Ealing Council’s lead member for first rate dwelling incomes, added: “Our borough is at the heart of WestTech London and our role as a national centre for science and technology is growing all the time. Our jobs and skills strategy – which is aligned with the National Industrial Strategy and London Growth Plan – highlights science and innovation as a priority growth sector for the borough, which can deliver thousands more well-paid jobs for residents over the coming years. The plans coming to fruition at One Portal Way will bring new businesses here that will help to grow our economy. We look forward to continuing to our joint working with Imperial and OPDC, establishing Old Oak as London’s new town for frontier innovation.”
Old Oak Campus
Imperial’s Old Oak Campus consists of scholar lodging and key employee properties, with 1,500 college students and workers at the moment resident within the space, in addition to the 9.6 acre Victoria Industrial Estate, which Imperial is repurposing to present very important prototyping and superior manufacturing follow-on space for scaling companies.
Imperial has formidable plans for its belongings within the Old Oak space which is able to help c. 4 million sq ft of further improvement, together with the long-term redevelopment of the broader 4.5 acre One Portal Way web site. Imperial’s redevelopment of the One Portal Way web site will ship a new inexperienced coronary heart for Old Oak, together with a significant new public backyard, retail, facilities and companies, alongside new properties throughout numerous tenures, together with scholar lodging, and 300,000 sq ft of versatile workspace.
For extra details about the scale-up space or to ebook a tour visit the Sciopolis webpage.
Find out extra about OPDC’s plans for Old Oak in their brochure (PDF).