Imperial to launch affordable scale-up lab space in London

Imperial College London is launching One Portal Way, Old Oak – a 55,000 ft² scale-up space aimed at science and technology ventures – to help tackle London’s critical shortage of affordable lab space.

Opening mid-2026, the new facility will offer flexible, ready-to-use lab and office space for around 30 scaling companies, in partnership with lab space specialists Sciopolis. It will be part of Imperial’s growing Old Oak Campus, which also includes housing for over 1,500 students and key workers.

This development is central to Imperial’s long-term ambition to transform Old Oak into a major UK innovation and advanced manufacturing hub, forming a key part of the emerging WestTech London ecosystem. Occupiers will benefit from proximity to Imperial’s academic expertise and the support of its in-house incubator.

According to Imperial President Professor Hugh Brady, the project addresses one of the “most urgent challenges” facing UK science – a lack of grow-on lab space. The initiative promises to provide high-growth companies with the infrastructure and connections they need to thrive without leaving the capital.

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