London Life Sciences Sector Lifts Off As 2 Huge Projects Progress
Two major London life sciences schemes progressed this week as the sector recovers from a slow few years.
A £500M mixed-use scheme involving a major life sciences component near King’s Cross was recommended for approval by planners at Camden council, Building reported. A decision on the scheme is expected later this week.
And farther west, Stanhope was appointed to lead the master planning of the redevelopment of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, which will entail the creation of a new teaching hospital and the extension of an existing life sciences cluster.
London life sciences leasing rose 19% in 2025 to 203K SF, data from Savills showed, and a further 95K SF of deals are under offer.
In King’s Cross, residential developer Ballymore and life sciences developer Lateral are on the brink of receiving planning permission to build a 650K SF scheme on a site at Camley Street, just to the north of King’s Cross station.
The project, with an estimated development cost of £500M, will comprise 401 new homes — including 119 social rent homes — in a 31-story block and 350K SF of commercial space in a 13-story block.
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and Morris + Co. are the architects on the scheme, which is at the epicentre of London’s life sciences sector, close to research facilities such as the Francis Crick Institute.
In Paddington, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has appointed Stanhope and Allies and Morrison to lead the master planning for the redevelopment of St Mary’s Hospital.
The project will transform the 9-acre site, delivering a teaching hospital and major trauma centre with over 800 beds, including about 25% more inpatient capacity.
The development will also entail the expansion of Paddington Life Sciences, the surrounding life sciences and data cluster.
Paddington Life Sciences doesn’t come under the ownership of a single body but is a collection of organisations working together. Property companies in the group include Brockton Everlast and Derwent London.
Imperial College London is one of several speakers at Bisnow's UK Life Sciences And Healthcare Summit 2026, to be held on 17 March. Sign up here.
