Applications have opened for small businesses seeking space at Lockton Street Arches in North Kensington, a new initiative designed to help local enterprises move into permanent premises and expand.
Places for London, the property company owned by Transport for London, confirmed that the 11 refurbished railway arches near Latimer Road Tube station will form the first site in its Places for Growth programme. The scheme offers a stepped rent model that begins at a discounted rate before rising to market level over four years.
Tenants are expected to move into the units during winter 2026/27 once refurbishment work is complete. The project is aimed at entrepreneurs who have outgrown home working, market stalls or shared spaces, as well as established firms looking for additional room to develop.
The renovation is being carried out in line with the organisation’s Arches Design Guide, with a focus on environmental performance. Each unit will achieve a minimum Energy Performance Certificate rating of B, with air source heat pumps installed to reduce running costs. Recycled materials are being used where possible and zero-emission vehicles are removing waste from the site. Improvements to the surrounding public realm and service yard are also planned.
Businesses accepted onto the programme will receive tailored support from Portobello Business Centre and Grow London Local, alongside in-house guidance from Places for London. Applicants will be assessed on the strength of their business plan, their connection to the local area and the contribution they are expected to make to the neighbourhood.
Jo Fisher, Head of Arches at Places for London, said the initiative was intended to remove barriers to growth. She said many firms struggle to secure premises “not down to their ambition or business plans” and that the scheme aimed to create a pipeline of new enterprises across the capital. The refurbished arches, she added, would be “modern, sustainable and welcoming to all”.
Portobello Business Centre, which has supported entrepreneurs in North Kensington for more than three decades, will provide hands-on advice to the successful applicants. Chief Executive Dr Sheela Sharma said the combination of affordable workspace and structured mentoring addressed two of the main challenges facing scaling businesses.
Grow London Local, delivered by London & Partners, will also offer free assistance to tenants. Director of Small Business Services Vanesa Perez-Sanchez said the partnership would help protect jobs and bring renewed activity to high streets and neighbourhoods.
Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth Howard Dawber described small businesses as “the backbone of London’s economy” and said the project would help deliver inclusive growth by creating jobs and strengthening the local economy.
Places for London acts as landlord to more than 1,500 businesses, 95 per cent of which are small or medium-sized enterprises. The company reinvests its income into the transport network and community projects and reported delivering £440 million of economic and social value to London in 2024.
Several firms on the estate have expanded significantly after starting in modest premises. Zie Coffee & Co, which began with a single outlet at Rayners Lane station in 2022, has since opened two further locations across the portfolio.
