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White City An Evolving District
The history of White City is a story of change.
Over the past 150 years, it has evolved from quiet countryside to the site of great international exhibitions, a place for forward-thinking social housing, the location of a global broadcasting powerhouse and the home of a world-famous football club.
Today, White City Innovation District is fast emerging as a hotspot for the most innovative sectors in the global economy.
2025In 2025, White City Innovation District is part of WestTech London, the emerging innovation ecosystem for London which is harnessing the strengths of west London to create a new UK powerhouse for science and technology.
WestTech London and White City Innovation District feature as major growth initiatives and a key industrial innovation corridor in the new London Growth Plan, launched at Imperial’s South Kensington Campus in February 2025 and which sets out the Mayor of London’s vision for London’s economy over the next decade.
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White City An Evolving District
2024
In 2024, Imperial’s major new building for the School of Public Health opens on White City Campus, officially unveiled by Professor Sir Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer for England.
In the same year, Imperial announces a £200m partnership with Bruntwood SciTech to deliver a new 200,000 sq ft commercial innovation facility at White City Campus which will offer world-class labs and office space, plus new opportunities to work directly with Imperial’s research and academic community.
Hammersmith & Fulham Council launches Upstream London, its second-phase industrial strategy to drive inclusive economic growth across the borough and beyond.
EdCity, a not-for-profit partnership between national education charity Ark and Hammersmith & Fulham Council, completes Phase I development in February 2024. This £150m investment will bring an education hub, over 130 affordable new homes for local people and key workers (including teachers), a modern office building, and improved community facilities to White City.
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White City An Evolving District
2022
In 2022, ITV moves all of its London-based staff to one location at Broadcast Centre building in the creative campus of White City Place. White City Innovation District is now home to some of the world’s most dynamic creative organisations, including the BBC, Publicis and ITV. Stanhope also completes development of Gateway Central and West on behalf of owners Mitsui Fudosan and AIMCo. Gateway West provides 25,000 sq ft of office space and sits alongside Gateway Central – the 280,000 sq ft building that hosts the headquarters of L’Oréal UK and Ireland.
2021
In 2021, Imperial opens The Sir Michael Uren Hub – one of the world’s most significant centres for biomedical engineering.
2020
In 2020, Scale Space – a joint venture between Blenheim Chalcot and Imperial – establishes a new community for innovative businesses looking to scale growth and opens its doors on the south site of Imperial’s White City campus.
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White City An Evolving District
2019
In 2019, Novartis UK headquarters move to White City Place, and a new residential tower – Eighty-Eight Wood Lane – opens for residents and key workers.
2018
In 2018, Imperial College London’s Department of Chemistry moves to the Molecular Science Research Hub at White City, officially opened by the Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan.
2017
In 2017, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham launched its Industrial Strategy, Economic Growth for Everyone, and partnered with Imperial College London to support growth, enterprise and innovation in the area.
White City Innovation District is created.
About White City Innovation District
Our Mission
White City Innovation District is one of London’s leading clusters for future industries – from AI and life sciences, to food tech, climate tech and digital media.
The district was developed through a first of its kind partnership between Imperial College London and Hammersmith & Fulham Council, and is underpinned by the H&F Council’s pioneering next-phase industrial strategy, Upstream London.
The district is anchored by Imperial’s White City Deep Tech Campus and Hammersmith Hospital Health Sciences Campus.
White City Innovation District is recognised as an economic hotspot for innovation, translation and commercialisation, supporting start-ups and scale-ups, as well as established brand leaders and global corporates.
The district’s strong links with other leading innovation districts across the world are creating an interconnected ecosystem – delivering transformative opportunities for future-focused organisations to realise their ambitions and potential.
Tomorrow is made here.
In the words of our community.
Our Impact
White City Innovation District is bringing together world-class researchers and clinicians, pioneering businesses and local communities to turn groundbreaking science into global real-world impact, create new jobs igniting growth and generating inclusive educational opportunities for local communities.
The strategic relationship between H&F Council and Imperial College London has generated £6 billion of high-growth business investment and created over 13,000 jobs to date.
At the heart of White City Innovation District is Imperial’s White City Campus – where science, technology and business come together to innovate and deliver solutions to some of our greatest global challenges. From AI and medtech to engineering biology, chemistry and climate science, White City Campus is a unique space for discovery, collaboration and bold thinking, with exciting plans for further development already underway.
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1. Accelerating Growth
Across White City Innovation District, world-changing start-ups and scale-ups are collaborating and innovating alongside established global brand leaders and major employers including L’Oréal and Novartis.
The district’s key developers – including Cadillac Fairview, Stanhope, AIMCo and Mitsui Fudosan – are delivering an ambitious programme of development activity that is set to further enhance the local area and boost the international profile of this flourishing area.
Together, our community is making the breakthroughs that are shaping tomorrow’s world.
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2. Powering Success
The landmark partnership between Hammersmith & Fulham Council and Imperial College London crystallised in White City Innovation District has created over 13,000 jobs across high-growth industries – from AI and deep tech, to biotechnology, life sciences and the green economy – to date.
Start-ups nurtured by Imperial White City Incubator have raised an impressive £622 million since 2016. Early-stage companies benefit from vital support provided by the Imperial Incubator and its expert team, including lab-based incubation space at Scale Space – a joint venture between Imperial College London and Blenheim Chalcot, the UK’s leading digital venture builder, designed to accelerate innovation and support scaleups in tech, life sciences, and the digital sector. With over 20 years of incubation experience, Imperial Incubator knows what it takes to succeed.
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3. Driving Discovery
White City Innovation District is at the forefront of developing world-leading solutions and breakthroughs that will define the future of the economy, our society and the planet. From renewable energy and plastic pollution reduction to AI-driven healthcare and cyber security, innovators across the district are playing a pivotal role in shaping the world of tomorrow – creating a wealth of new jobs in the process.
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4. Building Community
White City Innovation District is built on the businesses that are based here, which are supported by 1.5 million square feet of labs and high-tech workspace. There are also more than two thousand new homes being built across White City Innovation District, as well as new places to eat, drink and spend time. The District is a thriving place to work, live and visit. And while our impact is global, our local connections in White City run deep – including supporting local schools, proactively engaging with our community, and creating a vibrant and inclusive space where everyone can learn, innovate, and thrive.