Title: Revamping the Urban Environment: How City-Centre Laboratory Spaces Are Energizing the UK’s Deep Tech Chemistry Startups
The UK has been grappling with a long-standing obstacle that hinders the growth of its deep tech chemistry industry: a persistent deficiency in laboratory infrastructure. Despite an abundance of groundbreaking concepts and a strong academic foundation, advancements in applying scientific innovations to practical uses are being hampered, primarily due to restricted and expensive access to appropriate lab facilities.
Nevertheless, the upheaval in conventional work settings following Covid-19 has unveiled unexpected opportunities to address this infrastructure dilemma. As remote work becomes more commonplace and high street traffic diminishes, urban areas throughout the UK are evolving into promising grounds for laboratory advancements.
An Evolving Urban Environment
Traditionally, laboratory spaces have been situated in science parks and distant industrial zones, where rental costs are lower and zoning regulations are more lenient. “There has always been a demand for city centre locations, but retail spaces were historically viewed as premium,” states Glenn Crocker, executive director at the property development firm Pioneer Group. However, recent declines in retail property prices have provided a chance to significantly revamp underutilized areas into advanced laboratories.
One notable initiative is the transformation of the Grafton Centre in Cambridge. Once a thriving retail destination, the decline in shopper traffic left large areas vacant. Now sanctioned by the local council, Pioneer’s proposal will convert part of the centre into a dynamic innovation hub, merging laboratory and office spaces while generating over 2,000 new jobs.
As Crocker notes, numerous retail environments lend themselves well to conversion due to characteristics such as sturdy floors, high ceilings, parking facilities, and logistics areas like loading docks. “Retail spaces are particularly conducive to transformation, and the Grafton Centre exemplifies that,” he explains.
Pioneering New Models: From Warehouses to High-Rise Buildings
Similar urban revitalization strategies are unfolding beyond retail locations. The surplus of office buildings, another outcome of the pandemic, has also paved the way for lab adaptation.
Elizabeth Harney, senior director at the US venture firm Portal Innovations, is involved in creating chemistry labs within central high-rise office buildings. These projects present unique obstacles—especially regarding ventilation, vibration management, and secure chemical transport—but they also offer a compelling advantage: closeness to universities, hospitals, and bustling urban areas.
In the UK, Tim Fry from Arup is spearheading similar initiatives. “You’re attempting to unravel some considerations that were overlooked during the original construction,” he explains, mentioning significant challenges such as upgrading HVAC systems for enhanced air exchange and incorporating emergency power sources.
Custom-Built Laboratories Foster Community and Collaboration
In addition to conversions, there is increasing support for constructing city-centre laboratories from the ground up. The Francis Crick Institute, located in the heart of London’s Knowledge Quarter, stands out as a prominent example of an urban lab designed specifically for this purpose. Since its opening in 2016, the Institute has continued to grow, with its new Skylab – a rooftop extension – set to introduce even more advanced facilities to the capital in 2024.
These sites are selected for good reason. Urban laboratories offer early-stage startups everything they require: access to talent, infrastructure, collaborators, and even lifestyle amenities that enhance the appeal of day-to-day work life.
As Harney points out, “Many individuals are younger, so being in the city attracts them… after work, they can visit a nice restaurant or socialize with friends—it’s a much more vibrant environment than a remote business park.”
Startups Leading the Charge: Establishing Labs from the Ground Up
Harry Destecroix, the founder of ScienceCreates in Bristol, epitomizes a fresh generation of entrepreneurs who refuse to be held back by infrastructure deficiencies. In 2014, he struggled to find lab space to spin out his company, Ziylo, from the University of Bristol. His answer? Create it himself.
Originally launched as an incubator for his company, ScienceCreates has now expanded to include several modular lab spaces formed from converted warehouse units. The venture supports additional deep tech startups and has significantly impacted the city—Bristol has climbed from the 20th to the 6th position in producing spinouts in the UK.
Victoria Garcia is on a similar path with QuickLabs, aiming to be the “Ryanair of lab space.” Located in a repurposed warehouse in central Leeds, QuickLabs offers highly flexible lab access on short-term agreements, starting from as little as 10 days. It is a direct response to her own difficulties in developing BindEthics, a bio-adhesive company, without affordable lab access.
Garcia’s shared lab approach capitalizes on the collaborative ethos of academic laboratories while adapting it to the entrepreneurial arena. By crowd-sourcing pre-owned lab equipment and providing flexible, low-cost rentals, she is significantly lowering the barriers for aspiring scientists and innovators.
Changing Policy Priorities: The Government’s Role