Ground has been broken on a new purpose-built laboratory facility in King’s Cross, London, UK.
Domestic company Morgan Sindall Construction has been appointed by Kadans Science Partner, a European investor, to deliver the project, which is expected to be completed in the second quarter (Q2) of 2026.
Located at 4 Brandon Road, the Versa project will offer 51,500ft² of space, catering to various needs, from Containment Level 2 (CL2) labs to production and pilot areas.
This facility aims to support King’s Cross’ specialisms in biomedical, life sciences, data, and precision medicine by providing bespoke spaces for companies and professionals.
The four-storey building will feature amenities designed to foster well-being and collaboration, including cycle parking, on-site showers, and private, landscaped areas for occupants.
Versa represents the second Kadans facility within Tileyard Quarter, following the recently launched Mayde hub, a 114,000ft² complex completed at the end of 2024 by Morgan Sindall’s London team.
Versa is set to complement the existing facilities at Mayde, which offers tenants good manufacturing practices and pilot manufacturing facilities, as well as CAT B spaces and CAT A labs with associated write-up areas.
Kadans’ plans for Tileyard Quarter include more than 300,000ft² of high-spec laboratory, office, and manufacturing space.
Kadans Science Partner development and investment head Will Fogden said: “Versa will be an enabler of Kadans’ growing ecosystem at King’s Cross, offering flexible, turnkey spaces designed to evolve with our tenants’ needs. Tileyard Quarter is more than just buildings, it’s a dynamic, mixed-use innovation district addressing the demand for space that fosters discovery, development, and collaboration.”
Morgan Sindall Construction London area director Richard Dobson said: “This ground-breaking ceremony at King’s Cross marks a key milestone in the development of what will be an important cornerstone of London’s dynamic health and life sciences sector.
“Once complete, Versa, 4 Brandon Road, will boost the amount of specialist labs and R&D [research and development] space in the burgeoning Tileyard Quarter, complementing the facilities that have already been delivered in the now operational Mayde, 5-10 Brandon Road.”
This month, Salford City Council granted planning permission for a new Acoustics building within Crescent Salford’s innovation zone, with Morgan Sindall Construction taking on the role of lead contractor for this project.
