Investment Opportunities
Opportunity Areas
Area of Intensification
Central activity Zone
International or metropolitan
Major
District
Borough Boundary
Green Belt
Metropolitan open land / Other open spaces
Rail station
Railway track
Foreshore
Water
The Knowledge Quarter Innovation District stretches from Camden Town to Holborn and Covent Garden and is home to a cluster of world-class scientific, academic, cultural and knowledge-based institutions and organisations.
In recent years the innovation district has seen tremendous growth, particularly around King’s Cross, St Pancras and Euston stations, due to the excellent transport links, highly skilled workforce, high-quality office and lab spaces and enhanced retail, art and leisure offer. Camden Council is committed to supporting the future development of these industries that specialise in life sciences, data and technology and the creative industries so that local communities, residents and businesses reap genuine benefit.
Following the success of the Francis Crick Institute, planning permission has been granted for UCL’s Institute of Neurology, London Discovery Research Centre for Merck and Moorfields Eye Hospital including the Institute of Ophthalmology – in excess of 3m. sq. ft. of research and lab space is in development or in the pipeline in this area. Camden has also jointly produced Knowledge Quarter 2050; a Spatial Strategy for an Inclusive Innovation District, to set out a shared vision for growth and expectations of investment can develop and support local communities.
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY: The Council’s Draft New Local Plan proposes to support the Knowledge Quarter to develop in line with KQ2050. Major proposals are welcome and will be required to contribute to reducing inequalities and increasing life chances in local resident communities.
Kentish Town is well known for its bustling high street with a range of independent shops, cafés and pubs, as well as its great transport links to central London and beyond. Camden wants to build on this great location and the emerging creative cluster along Highgate Road with a new mixed-use quarter. The Kentish Town Planning Framework was shaped by the communities that surround the incredible opportunity at Regis Road and the Murphy’s site. The Framework envisages more than 2,000 new homes and a wide range of new jobs from creative industries to storage and distribution. Most importantly this will be a new zero carbon neighbourhood with its own character and community, very much a part of Kentish Town but on the doorstep of Hampstead Heath.
Located beside the Regent’s Canal between King’s Cross and Camden Town, the Canalside to Camley Street area occupies an incredible location with significant development opportunities linked to the Knowledge Quarter. Within this area, Camden Council is developing a large mixed-use scheme as part of its Community Investment Programme. This new neighbourhood will support around 200,000sqft of commercial space including light industrial and creative makers space, lab-enabled office alongside around 350 homes. Camden Council are in the process of procuring/selecting a development partner to bring forward part of the development opportunities in this area. Ahead of redevelopment, Camden Council is partnering with a meanwhile operator, Co-Laboratories, to support the growth of life-sciences in the area within vacant units.
Project status: Pre-planning -concept design
Estimated Completion Date: 2029/2030
Project Partners: Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, JLL, AECOM
Planning Document: Canalside to Camley Street Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) - Camden Council
The regeneration of Euston Station can contribute £41bn to the UK economy, create 34,000 new jobs, and provide the opportunity to build 2,500 homes – including 1,200 much needed affordable homes. It can supercharge the growth of the life sciences and tech businesses based in and around Euston in London’s Knowledge Quarter, which contributes over £35bn to UK GVA every year, a larger contribution than many entire city regions. It is also one of the fastest growing areas in London for economic output.
Investment will support locally led regeneration and there’s the potential to deliver more than 5m. sq. ft. of new commercial space for London’s Knowledge Quarter and thousands of new jobs while supporting delivery of the new station. Taken together with its scale, rich cultural heritage, and incredible scientific, digital, and academic Knowledge Quarter neighbours; it is also a once in a generation opportunity to put innovation firmly at the forefront of Britain’s new economy, connecting London to tech and science jobs across the country
Camden — 22 sq km in the heart of London, home to around 218,000 people (census 2021 *Camden is working to understand the impact of Covid-19 and whether the resident population is under-represented in the 2021 census), world class institutions, theatres, music venues, markets and green space. Camden’s history was shaped to a large extent by the railways which have helped create new growth areas around King’s Cross, St Pancras, Euston and Kentish Town.
The borough’s equally rich social history has been shaped by the people who live, work and learn here. 163 different languages and dialects are spoken in Camden schools, an indication of the borough’s diversity. It has the largest population of students in London and more higher education institutions than any other local authority. Camden Council is committed to protecting the borough’s mix of communities.
GLA Population Projections 2033 226,455
GLA Population Projections 2041 231,549
London plan new homes (ten-year target) 10,380
Building council homes for Londoners (four-year programme) 308
Kate Gibbs, Head of Inclusive Economy / Patrick Jones, Business Growth Manager
kate.gibbs@Camden.gov.uk / patrick.jones@camden.gov.uk
“Camden has a proud, rebellious spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems, and to bring about real social change. We want to make Camden a better borough – a place where everyone has a chance to succeed and where nobody gets left behind. Together we will create a place that works for everyone and where everyone has a voice.”
