Plans in for incubator space at City skyscraper

Proposals have been submitted for 13,068 sq ft of incubator space at office tower 22 Bishopsgate in the City of London, EC2. The space, called The Exchange, will be located on Level 7 of the 62-storey tower and represents 1% of the overall spatial footprint of the building. It is expected to be open for occupation from Q1/Q2 2020 and available to any people or businesses that have traded for less than five years, employ fewer than 10 staff and are not a subsidiary of a larger business. The space could accommodate up to 150 people and house meeting rooms for between 4 and 12 people, as well as a flexible presentation/events and training space for up to 70 people. AXA Investment Management – Real Assets has said it is working on finding a third party to operate the space but that the relationship with other communal spaces and working floors in the skyscraper, “particularly with Level 6 below and Level 57, has complicated the ‘who’ of Level 7”. This means that the incubator space could be extended to include Level 6, giving it an extra 24,000 sq ft, which would make it more viable as a co-working space. AXA is looking at several different leasing options which would allow for space operators that would have not been considered to be involved. To send feedback, e-mail louise.dransfield@egi.co.uk or tweet @DransfieldL or @estatesgazette