BioIndustry Association signs for Bloomsbury’s Victoria House
The BioIndustry Association has signed up to be the first life science occupier at Victoria House in Bloomsbury Square, WC1.
The trade association for UK life sciences will occupy 2,350 sq ft on the upper ground floor of the Grade II listed building, which is being retrofitted by Oxford Properties and Pioneer Group.
Last month, Camden Council granted permission to transform 40,000 sq ft of vacant shops on the ground floor of Victoria House into flexible lab-enabled workspaces. The move follows the planning approval secured in November last year to redevelop the 220,000 sq ft mixed-use building into a 300,000 sq ft centre for life sciences.
The BioIndustry Association has signed up to be the first life science occupier at Victoria House in Bloomsbury Square, WC1.
The trade association for UK life sciences will occupy 2,350 sq ft on the upper ground floor of the Grade II listed building, which is being retrofitted by Oxford Properties and Pioneer Group.
Last month, Camden Council granted permission to transform 40,000 sq ft of vacant shops on the ground floor of Victoria House into flexible lab-enabled workspaces. The move follows the planning approval secured in November last year to redevelop the 220,000 sq ft mixed-use building into a 300,000 sq ft centre for life sciences.
With conversion works under way, the first phase, spanning 190,000 sq ft of lab-enabled space – including fully fitted incubator and grow-on space – is due to complete in autumn 2024.
The project on track to achieve BREEAM Excellent certification and is targeting an EPC A energy rating.
Abigail Shapiro, head of life sciences and residential for Europe at Oxford Properties, said: “The lease to BIA, the voice of the UK’s life sciences industry, is an important validation of our vision that Victoria House will become one of the pre-eminent life sciences hubs in London, and we look forward to working with Pioneer Group to achieve that goal.”
Steve Bates, chief executive at the BioIndustry Association, added: “I truly believe that innovation and pace is only sustainable if you create a stimulating and nurturing environment where companies at all stages of development can meet, network and collaborate. The aims of Victoria House are very exciting, which is why I wanted the BIA to be based there. The advantages it offers to the UK industry are going to be attractive to start-ups and established companies alike.”
CBRE and JLL are letting agents on the scheme.
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Image from Oxford Properties