Places of work

We have established a new Workspace Advisory Group to advise the GLA on the availability, affordability, growth, development, and long term sustainability of London's workspaces.

The Open Workspace Providers Network brings together more than 300 workspace providers to share information, and opportunities for new spaces thay may be able to take on.

The London Open Workspaces Map is an interactive and updatable guide to open workspaces in London. It reveals their geographical distribution and provides information to potential users.

Commissioned by the London Economic Action Partnership, the Workspace Affordability Crisis reports highlight the impact that the recent changes to business rates have had on London’s open workspaces. They propose solutions to the current challenges, which include a pilot workspace accreditation scheme, rates relief training, and an open workspace strategy:

• The Affordability Crisis - Overview and Recommendations
• The Affordability Crisis - Business Rates Aren't Working for London's Open Workspaces
• The Affordability Crisis - London Needs an Accreditation Scheme for Open Workspaces

Other research:

• The Value of Workspace (December 2016) was undertaken independently by the Institute of Public Policy Research, IPPR. The report evidences the economic, social and cultural value of workspaces, as well as providing an impact framework. We are developing template questionnaires in a variety of formats that workspace providers can use to capture their value more consistently.
• Incubators, Accelerators and Co-working spaces (September 2014) was the first study of this emerging sector. The report identified 34 incubators, 16 accelerators, and 112 co-working spaces operating in London. Half of these spaces were found to have been established in the past two years, and most were located in inner London
• Artists' Workspaces (September 2014) identified around 300 studio buildings catering for 11,500 artists. A crisis is approaching, as a 45% increase in rents over the past ten years means that a third of providers expect not to be able to renew their leases over the next 5 years. It was accompanied by ways of Creating Artists’ Workspace.
• Co-Making (January 2015), a report prepared for the London Legacy Development Corporation, researched open access makerspaces and shared workshops.
• Accommodating Growth in Town Centres (July 2014) encourages boroughs to think about the importance of non-residential space while planning for new homes. It recognises the economic significance of existing Low Threshold Enterprise Spaces in and around town centres

Industrial areas are home to a fifth of jobs outside central London in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, food preparation, distribution, printing, waste and recycling. They serve London’s growing population, and need to be close to their markets for sustainable and efficient operation.





We have carried out the following research on industrial areas:

• The London Industrial Land Baseline (2015) report identifies the past, current, and potential future supply of industrial land; reviews trends in rental values; updates estimates of employment and businesses; and explores the potential impacts of a reduced supply of industrial land on London’s economy, employment, traffic congestion, business competitiveness - to inform the next London Plan.
  
• The Industrial Intensification and Colocation Study (2018) examines the design implications of intensifying industrial uses, as well as colocating them with residential. The study provides outline parameters and specifications for different sizes of industrial units, urban design guidance, and more detailed design considerations associated with particular approach to intensification and colocation. As well as design, the study tests the viability of 4 "model sites", providing commentary on wider deliverability and viability issues.
  
• The Industrial Intensification Primer (2017) summaries the main forms of industrial intensification and co-location with residential with case studies. This was the first step in further work on viability and deliverability.
  
• A number of detailed industrial audits, such as the Park Royal Atlas (May 2014) to provide a new level of understanding about London's largest industrial area, which provides Londoners with everything from bread and fruit juice to ambulance cars. A full list of the audits conducted by the GLA and other partners is available here.
  
• Business Organisation in Industrial Areas (February 2015) explores various forms of organisation amongst businesses in different industrial areas; how they have been established, their management and organisation, sources of funding; and actions taken to address issues such as safety and security, cleanliness, and infrastructure.
  

The Industrial Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) Group meets quarterly. It is made up of 7 BIDs in industrial areas in London, other business organisations and industrial experts.