In Brent, an Affordable Workspace is a workspace that is disposed or leased to an Approved Workspace Operator for a minimum of 10 years, at no more than 50% of market value or rents for the lifetime of a development.
Affordable Workspace Operators are organisations committed to providing and managing low-cost workspace, business support and networking opportunities. When a developer submits a planning application, the Council may require they partner with an Affordable Workspace Operator to provide affordable workspace as part of their scheme.
Operators tend to offer all-in prices, which include the cost of rent, business rates and utilities on flexible ‘easy in, easy out’ terms. The type and quantity of workspace is agreed and secured through a legal contract called a Section 106 Agreement. If the workspace proposed is considered inappropriate due to its size or location, then a cash contribution is paid by the developer, which is used towards providing affordable workspace elsewhere in the borough.
Brent’s draft Local Plan (.pdf, 26.56MB) includes four policies to deliver affordable workspace in Brent:
- Draft Policy BE1 relates to providing workspace in Growth Areas such as Wembley.
- Draft Policy BE2 supports delivery of affordable workspace in SIL (Strategic Industrial Locations) and LSIS (Locally Significant Industrial Sites).
- Draft Policy BE3 provides for affordable workspace on Local Employment Sites (LES).
- Draft Policy BE4 promotes workspace in unviable secondary frontage in town centres.
Approved Affordable Workspace Operators
Brent has an approved list of Workspace Operators that developers must consult with to deliver Affordable Workspace as part of their development.
Whilst the Council can require affordable workspace be leased or disposed to an Operator after a planning application has been determined, it is most successfully delivered when considered proactively at design stage and in advance of planning submission. We strongly encourage developers consult with Operators during the pre-planning application stage. Close collaboration with the Council can also help to determine viable local demand and inform scheme design and planning.
Being on the Affordable Workspace Operator list does not imply that the Council endorses any workspace provider, or its services, for any particular scheme. Therefore, when choosing a workspace provider via this list or any other directory, it is advisable you carry out your own checks.
View our Approved Operators list
| Company Name | Company Description | Company email address |
|---|---|---|
| Neko Trust | NEKO Trust focuses on supporting young people and early-career creatives from a diverse range of backgrounds so that they can develop the skills, knowledge and networks they need to have a successful career in music and the creative industries. We provide subsidised workspace to a community of more than 50 creative individuals at our thriving cultural hub in Wandsworth. We also run education programmes and offer hands-on training, as well as the provision of rehearsal facilities and storage. | info@nekotrust.org |
| | We are a leading London studio provider, creating and advocating for visual arts communities, operational since 1997. Within Brent, we are delivering a vibrant community of artists and designer makers within Wembley Park. We seek long term leases and we build individual self contained studios. We also seek opportunities to buy affordable commercial space in excess of 20,000 sq. ft. | contact@secondfloor.co.uk |
| Formerly London Youth Support Trust (LYST), Launch It was established in 2000 with a simple aim: to break down the barriers young entrepreneurs from deprived backgrounds face when starting their own business, including a lack of affordable workspace, finance, advice and support. We provide young people affordable workspace (shared or private unit), business advice and mentoring over a 2 year period to support their business in the start up stage. Currently we have 5 centres across London and 4 nationwide. | info@launchit.org.uk | |
| ASC is a registered charity providing affordable workspace to fine artists, makers and creative industries. Founded in 1995 ASC is one of the largest workspace providers in the U.K. We currently provide space to over 650 practitioners. ASC also offers free business support, training and grant funding. | info@ascstudios.co.uk | |
| Since 1972, Acme has provided affordable homes, studio space, residencies and awards to fine artists. By providing space, time, finance and opportunity we aim to promote the development of art and artists' careers. In 2018, Acme will support over 700 individual artist tenants with affordable studios across 16 buildings in Greater London. | jack@acme.org.uk | |
| ACAVA is an educational charity which provides public benefits through visual art based educational and community projects by establishing affordable studios and workspaces for artists, makers and creatives, supporting their professional development, and engaging them in a wide range of projects in partnership with local, education, arts and health authorities, regeneration agencies, social landlords, trusts and foundations, and developers. | dsmith@acava.org | |
| Meanwhile Space CIC is the pioneering social enterprise at the forefront of Meanwhile uses, creating vibrant communities by bringing temporarily redundant space into productive use. Meanwhile Space unlocks underused space for the benefit of community cohesion, placemaking and enterprise. This is typified by finding wasted space, transforming unloved visible, interesting, dilapidated, difficult buildings, into something useful. | info@meanwhilespace.com | |
| Arbeit Studios provides affordable creative work spaces for artists, designers, small businesses and start-ups, alongside business support, event/gallery space and a shared environment for innovative collaboration and community involvement. Arbeit is listed as a preferred workspace provider with Southwark, Islington, Barking & Dagenham, Tower Hamlets and Hackney Councils. | info@arbeit.org.uk | |
| We are a founding member of the global Impact Hub network, we have been operating a successful and growing co-working space and business incubator at Kings Cross since 2008. Our focus is on encouraging and scaling entrepreneurial solutions to social and environmental challenges, in accordance with the UN's SDGs. | Richard.evans@impacthub.net | |
| The Trust empowers South Kilburn communities through its management of The Granville, where we provide affordable workspace, with business and enterprise support, as well as employment support. Our Community Giveback Programme promotes local enterprise, and we also deliver community support, including youth and elders' services, support for people with mental health needs, arts activities and community events. | carl@southkilburntrust.org | |
| Enterprise4good | Small Business is in our DNA! We create exciting, supportive & collaborative flexible workplaces & spaces for local entrepreneurs & enterprise that assist in their start-up, survival & growth. We believe in local regeneration to deliver economic, social and physical impact that improves peoples lives. As a social enterprise, we re-invest our profits for a purpose...to help develop & grow the enterprise cultures of local neighbourhoods &communities. Enterprise4Good means Enterprise4All. | mark.kass@enterprise4good.org |
| The Co-Spaces | The Co-Spaces is a coworking space and business incubator supporting startups, freelancers, small business owners and entrepreneurs in the Greater London area. We currently have our location in Dalston (The Co-Dalston), Hackney where we support startups from the food and retail industry with our coworking kitchen, coworking desks, educational programs and mentor sessions. | london@theco.me |
| Wimbletech CIC | Wimbletech CIC make it possible for entrepreneurs to live good lives, grow their business within spaces they love, whilst giving back to their local community. By transforming under-utilised public spaces in partnership with Councils, we help a diverse community of start-ups+SME's to develop and grow, help asset owners increase the value of their spaces, create local jobs/increase local spending, curate work / life experiences and contributing & strengthening community cohesion. | theateam@wimbletech.com |
| CEME | CEME is a world class industry-led skills, education and business park in London. A registered independent charity, CEME's purpose is to provide its customers with an inspirational environment for learning and business growth. CEME provides services to a wide range of employers across all sectors with a specialist focus on the manufacturing, engineering, science and technology sectors. | seb.coombs@ceme.co.uk |
| Bow Arts | Bow Arts is one of the UK's leading providers of affordable creative workspace and homes for artists, designers and makers. We currently manage 14 sites across London. Established in 1995 as a charity we are London's first charitable Social Enterprise, we create employment and training and invest in local communities, we work with around 90 schools annually. We deliver Place Making and enterprise schemes with some of London's leading developers and housing providers. | mbaettig@bowarts.com |
| Affordable Workspace Partnership | Affordable workspace Partnership (AWP) is an affordable workspace provider committed to providing high quality workspace at least 20% below market rent. We aim to support start-up businesses and entrepreneurs working in a very broad of sectors from creative to tech. | info@affordableworkspace.org.uk |
In no event will the Council be liable for any loss or damage including, without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damages whatsoever arising from use or loss of use of data or profits arising out of or in connection with the use of the workspace provider list. This list has been compiled with the aim of assisting you to identify workspace providers in the borough however, the Council and its partners do not warrant the content nor accuracy of the information on this site.