Issue No. 4White Paper: Urban Labs

Introduction

With biological science poised to become the world’s next trillion-dollar industry, the UK’s biotech sector is repositioning itself both conceptually and physically. Out-of-town science parks have been a common sight since the 1970s, but biotech companies are increasingly migrating their labs to city-centre locations, creating new ecosystems for talent and research.

In this white paper we explore what’s stimulating this move, how lab design is adjusting and what the future holds for urban labs, incorporating the perspectives of investors, developers and designers. The publication considers the real estate market for this evolving sector, with a focus on London in particular, along with ongoing reforms to the UK planning system and benchmarks for international growth.

Produced in collaboration with Future Places Studio