Whitechapel

Whitechapel is home to a famous market, a thriving small business community, world-class cultural assets like the Whitechapel Gallery, and major employers including Barts Health NHS Trust. The Elizabeth Line, the new Tower Hamlets Town Hall, and recent developments like The Silk District are accelerating Whitechapel’s evolution into a well-connected city centre neighbourhood.

Growing London’s health research and technology hub

There is real momentum around health technology in Whitechapel. Multiple phases of new development are planned on and adjacent to the Barts Life Sciences site, supported by key anchor facilities including Queen Mary University of London’s Faculty of Medicine and Barts’s new early-phase Clinical Research Facility.

Working in partnership with Barts Health and Queen Mary, the borough has secured £800m of funding from BGO, HIG Capital and Lateral to develop a world-class centre for life sciences research and innovation – creating over 5,000 jobs and supporting local health and wellbeing. This is the largest health and technology cluster in London.

How we will work with partners

The council supports the creation of new health research and technology floorspace as part of mixed-use regeneration. We will work with partners to ensure new life sciences developments create good jobs for local people, support local health and wellbeing, provide training and skills opportunities, and create space for SMEs to start up and scale up.

Creating connected city centre living

The draft Local Plan identifies two large site allocations, Whitechapel South and Whitechapel North, with potential to deliver thousands of new homes and significant commercial space over the next 10 to 15 years. We are also actively encouraging development proposals on unallocated sites in the area. Opportunities span mixed-use, residential and employment development, alongside the visitor and experience economy.

How we will work with partners

The council will work proactively with partners to coordinate development and ensure Whitechapel continues to thrive as a diverse place with strong local connectivity. We want to create affordable homes, ensure new development supports local talent into good jobs, and work with partners to provide the affordable workspaces that keep Whitechapel’s small business community thriving.

Whitechapel’s health technology cluster is one of the most significant investment opportunities in London. Talk to us about how to get involved.