London is one of the biggest life sciences hubs in the world, rivalled only by New York and Boston. There are several development plans in the pipeline to create even more space for labs and other facilities. However, there has been a downturn in the market recently. It has lead to a reconsideration of several projects. We want to have a closer look at that here. Then, if you want help with investment properties in Islington, including guaranteed rent, you can rely on us.
Hub
There are several reasons why London has become such a major hub for life sciences. Crucially, it is home to thousands of businesses as well as top universities and leading institutions. As a result, it’s a hotspot for education and cutting edge research. Plus, it encourages collaboration because there are several fantastic clusters in the city, such as the Knowledge Quarter at King’s Cross and London Cancer Hub in Sutton.
While London remains a key destination for life sciences, there has been a downturn in the market. Sadly a number of companies are scaling back investments. This can have a big impact on projects in the pipeline.
Three projects
In July KPF submitted changes to their plans for a new building in the Knowledge Quarter for Delancey. The original plan was to build an eight storey property with 60% lab space and 40% offices. However, citing a change in the market and wanting to “better reflect today’s occupier requirements”, a new version of the plans reduces the amount of lab space and provides more office space. Speak to us about investment properties in Islington.
Interestingly, KPF have been able to add another storey to the building without increasing the height because offices don’t require as much headroom as labs. So, it will boost the amount of usable floorspace. The building will still include some education and community space on the ground floor too.
The change to the KPF/Delancey plans follow changes to 3XN’s plans for Euston Tower for British Land. Originally Camden Council specified the project should include at least 16,500sq/m of floorspace for life science use. However, the developer asked to remove this obligation so they can deliver more flexible office space.
Finally, in October 2025 Merck chose to pull out of plans to occupy a brand new life sciences building in the Knowledge Quarter. The 10 storey Belgrove House designed by AHMM for Precis Advisory has attracted significant attention for its fantastic design. While Merck’s decision caused disruption, Precis said they are still committed and will explore options for different occupiers.
Talk to us about investment properties in Islington and more
While markets can change rapidly, as we can see with life sciences, London is a location with impressive resilience. As a result, it is always a good option for different types of investors. The city offers a huge array of assets to suit various strategies, including development sites, older buildings with renovation potential, and various types of homes and housing.
If you put your money in property in London and want some help, you can rely on Finefair Ltd. We’re one of the top providers of guaranteed rent in the city. We don’t stop there though; clients can rely on us to arrange property management, work with HMOs, review portfolios, and even help with finding new investment opportunities.
So, get in touch and tell us what you have in mind, especially for investment properties in Islington. We’re happy to provide bespoke services to suit any needs.
