A new scale-up space for science and technology ventures, One Portal Way, Old Oak, will help to alleviate London's shortage of affordable lab space.
Imperial College London is launching a new scale-up space for science and technology ventures, One Portal Way, Old Oak, helping to alleviate London's shortage of affordable lab space and enabling rapidly growing businesses to remain in London as they scale.
This new facility not only addresses the shortage of affordable specialist lab space in London, which threatens to hold back the growth of the UK's science and tech sectors, particularly for startups looking to scale. It also creates a distinctive offer which enables direct connection and support from the world's leading STEMB university, giving emerging businesses an unrivalled opportunity to grow at pace.
One Portal Way, Old Oak will reinvent an existing building into 55,000 sq ft of fully fitted lab and office space, ready to occupy by a community of up to 30 scale-ups in mid-2026. The new facility is part of Imperial's Old Oak Campus, which brings together commercial spaces for innovation-led businesses and accommodation for more than 1,500 Imperial undergraduate students, staff and key workers.
Imperial is partnering with Sciopolis – specialists in flexible, ready-to-occupy lab and office space – to develop and operate the space. Occupiers will benefit from the support of Imperial Incubator, the university's home for early-stage lab-based companies, who will provide on-site assistance and facilitate connections to Imperial's innovation ecosystem.
Catalysing the transformation of Old Oak
Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial, said: "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, said: "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, within London's largest regeneration zone, and play a role in supporting the major development pipeline for the local area which is being led by OPDC with the close involvement of other strategic partners including Ealing Council. From 2030 onwards, the wider area will benefit from the Old Oak Common Station superhub, which is set 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 well connected to central London and the UK via the Elizabeth line, central line and A40, and adjacent to Park Royal, the UK's largest industrial area which is home to c.1,700 business and supports over 40,000 jobs. Old Oak Campus is less than 10 minutes from Imperial's White City Deep Tech Campus.
WestTech London
Located at the heart of WestTech London, the creation of One Portal Way, Old Oak ignites Imperial's plans for the long-term transformation of its assets in the Old Oak area and supports its commitment to make West London the science and technology growth engine for the UK.
WestTech London is an emerging innovation ecosystem that will become a globally recognised powerhouse for investment, economic growth and job creation, cementing the UK's position as a leader in science and technology. WestTech London is bringing together industry, investors, universities, NHS trusts, local authorities, developers and government to fuel innovation and drive global impact.
OPDC's Chief Executive David Lunts says: "OPDC's regeneration of Old Oak will create a revitalised urban district for West London, bringing major new investment into the local economy alongside thousands of new jobs, affordable homes and transformed public realm. Old Oak will deliver over 8,000 new and affordable homes, 6 acres of green open space and up to 2m sq ft of workspace. We are delighted to see the progress our partners at Imperial are making with the much-needed new affordable lab and office space at One Portal Way, putting Old Oak firmly on the map as an innovation hub in the heart of West London."
Ealing Council's Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, Ealing Council's lead member for decent living 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 includes student accommodation and key worker homes, with 1,500 students and staff currently resident in the area, as well as the 9.6 acre Victoria Industrial Estate, which Imperial is repurposing to provide vital prototyping and advanced manufacturing follow-on space for scaling businesses.
Imperial has ambitious plans for its assets in the Old Oak area which will support c. 4 million sq ft of additional development, including the long-term redevelopment of the broader 4.5 acre One Portal Way site. Imperial's redevelopment of the One Portal Way site will deliver a new green heart for Old Oak, including a major new public garden, retail, amenities and services, alongside new homes across various tenures, including student accommodation, and 300,000 sq ft of flexible workspace.
