Neighbourhood Makerspaces: The Latest Flex Space Concept Is Born

Neighbourhood maker-and-creator workspaces could be the next big thing in the world of flex.

General People is certainly hoping so, with an offer aimed at local users who need a little bit more than just a desk and some coffee.

A newly acquired 3.5-acre site at Haringey Warehouse District — including the Florentia clothing village — will kick-start a programme of development.

The north London site, which parent General Projects acquired last month, includes a 90K SF mixed-use campus of warehousing and factory spaces, alongside 41 loft apartments and a 1.5-acre vacant development site. 

General Projects will create a new 100K SF extension and a cluster of more than 150 like-minded independent creative design and manufacturing businesses.

The Haringey project is key to a new flexible workspace business aiming to provide bespoke design-led spaces for innovators, scale-ups, SMEs and entrepreneurs. 

The new operator is targeting young and growing businesses based in neighbourhood and fringe locations that are underserved by the current flexible market. 

The venture starts with a 300K SF portfolio from General Projects including the 117K SF Expressway building at Royal Docks, and 45K SF at Sierra Quebec Bravo in Canary Wharf, previously known as South Quay Building, which will open in early 2022. It will also operate at Walworth Town Hall.

“There is unquestionably a major gap in the flex sector, as mainstream operators have pivoted to offer large chunks of space to corporates to secure revenues; thereby leaving young, localised, steady-growth businesses priced out,” General Projects Chief Executive Jacob Loftus said. 

General People said its aim is to provide social and community value for their neighbourhoods. Its first three schemes will trial three different approaches, with different blends of space and occupiers.

Space will range from desks to light industrial space for makers, and a new model aimed at creative, cultural and community users.

“We will provide local authorities, investors and landlords with viable long-term commercial solutions for buildings that need reimagining," General People Chief Executive Jacob Sandelson said. "And at the heart of everything we do, we will continue our commitment to generating social value in the communities in which we operate, through our pioneering community wealth building programmes. General People will be a different kind of flexible workspace operator, focused on long-term curation and stewardship of business hubs that give back to their communities.” 

General People will operate as a separate business to General Projects.