Major investment in Old Oak to create jobs and innovation – Around Ealing

More highly skilled, well-paid jobs are set to come to the borough, thanks to a £150million investment by Imperial College London.

The university has bought a prime industrial site in North Acton, to further develop the WestTech Corridor, and create a new world-class hub for life sciences, business, and technological innovation which spans west London.

This investment has been helped by strong partnership working between the university and Ealing Council, the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), and wider stakeholders who supported the development of Ealing’s new jobs and skills strategy, which identifies life sciences as a key growth sector for the borough.

The area is already home to start-ups like Multus Biotechnology, which is working to make cultivated meat more affordable and accessible, and Koalaa, which creates affordable, comfortable, and tailor-made prosthetics for children and adults.

The purchase of the 9.6-acre site, currently known as the Victoria Industrial Estate, responds to the regional need for more affordable manufacturing space, and will enable existing innovators to stay and grow in west London as well attracting more into the region.

What is the WestTech Corridor?

Buying this land is the first step towards developing a new corridor spanning west London that is of national significance for innovation, advanced manufacturing and science in North Acton, including workspaces and accommodation for students and workers to access new jobs locally.

The new corridor will provide flexible and affordable workspace to allow innovators and makers to stay and grow in west London. These spaces will enable prototyping and advanced manufacturing of high tech solutions in areas like medicine and sustainability.

It is set to attract investment, drive economic growth, and create jobs, while nurturing technological advancements in science. This ambition aligns with the government and Mayor of London’s priorities for kickstarting economic growth.

Driving economic growth and jobs

The WestTech Corridor will bring a diverse range of new jobs and opportunities for reskilling and upskilling for borough residents. With excellent regional, national, and global transport links, the borough is uniquely placed to connect the Corridor to other innovation hubs across the rest of London, the UK, and the world.

Not only does the borough sit on the doorstep of Heathrow airport and host 5 Elizabeth line stations, but it will also soon benefit from the new Old Oak Common station, a superhub connecting HS2 with Great Western Rail, the Elizabeth Line, and Heathrow Express services.

This new investment will help achieve some of the aims in Ealing Council’s recently launched jobs and skills strategy, which outlines a commitment to bring more good, well-paid jobs to the borough, and identifies life sciences as a key growth sector Ealing.

Growing role of life sciences in west London

Council leader Peter Mason said: “The West Tech Corridor will be a major game changer for Ealing in securing good growth in a high tech, emerging economy. It builds on the growing role life sciences plays in west London, and this investment marks real confidence in the future of Ealing’s new town at Old Oak and Park Royal.

“Park Royal is at the confluence of all the transport infrastructure that makes our borough such an eye-catching place to invest. It is already an industrial powerhouse and we want it to do even more in science, technology, and innovation.”

Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, the council’s cabinet member for decent living incomes, added: “We want to provide excellent opportunities for skills development and employment for our residents, so securing investment from forward-thinking employers is essential. This strong partnership with Imperial will help us achieve that goal.”