Barts Life Sciences Cluster reaches next milestone 

Our partners BGO have submitted their planning application for their 1 million sqft integrated healthcare and research campus addressing needs for NHS, housing, green space and community facilities. 

The project, part of the new Barts Life Sciences Cluster, supports our efforts to create a world-class centre for life sciences research and innovation next to The Royal London Hospital, where NHS and industry can collaborate to drive innovation into healthcare. 

If approved, the plans could contribute £1 billion a year to the UK economy and bring £750 million of investment into Whitechapel over the next decade. The scheme is also predicted to create more than 1,300 jobs. 

Covering almost a million square feet, it offers the long-term prospect of extra capacity, including research facilities and office accommodation as well as affordable homes for key workers and new green spaces for the local community. 

Alongside public-sector services, the developments offers flexible workspaces (including affordable ones) – for health-tech, diagnostics, AI and robotics companies, fostering collaboration between clinicians, researchers and private-sector innovators.

The ground floor would be publicly accessible, with a large foyer and café leading to a flexible 800m² event space for up to 500 people – designed for exhibitions, community use and as a space to demonstrate MedTech innovation and research.  

Shane DeGaris, group chief executive of Barts Health NHS Trust said: 

“This is an exciting example of how we are working with local partners to bring much-needed investment into Whitechapel and regenerate the area around our flagship teaching hospital, The Royal London. The potential benefits for our staff, patients and their local communities are enormous. We will continue to work closely with BGO and others in the Barts Life Sciences Cluster to attract industry and turn our research into life-changing clinical practices and products for our patients.” 

Image credit: BGO