KOVA KX, Native Land’s 70,000 sq ft life science development in London’s King’s Cross has been fully pre-let two years ahead of the anticipated completion of the building, in the largest life sciences letting in the UK in 2025, and the largest in London since 2022.
LifeArc, a self-funded medical research organisation established by the UK’s Medical Research Council will be the sole occupier of the building when it completes in 2027. LifeArc is dedicated to collaborating to find new tests and treatments for rare diseases and global infectious diseases, as well as offering scientific expertise to partners and investing in a range of start-up companies through its venture capital arm, LifeArc Ventures.
Native Land partnered with AshbyCapital, the private equity real estate firm, to deliver KOVA KX as a co-investor and development manager.
KOVA KX is the major refurbishment and repositioning of 105 Judd Street in the heart of London’s Knowledge Quarter, the focal point of science, technology and education located within King’s Cross. The neighbourhood is home to some of the world’s most important knowledge-led institutions and businesses, including the Francis Crick Institute, The Wellcome Trust, University College London, British Library, Alan Turing Institute, Google, AstraZeneca UK, and the British Medical Association.
Designed by Stiff + Trevillion Architects, KOVA KX reimagines a characterful Edwardian office building that was most recently used as the headquarters of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). A total of 75% of the existing five-storey structure has been retained and restored, with a two-storey extension increasing the total floor area from 57,000 sq ft to 70,000 sq ft.
A highly sustainable refurbishment, KOVA KX has been designed to outperform RIBA and LETI 2030 goals for embodied carbon, with target emissions of 250-300kg CO2E/sqm. The building will be net-zero carbon in operation with all-electric services and is targeting a BREEAM Outstanding rating.
The building’s top three floors will offer green spaces and outdoor terraces, while the lower ground floor will house health club-style showers and changing facilities, as well as 140 cycle parking spaces. The ground-floor reception area will accommodate a collaborative events space.
Alasdair Nicholls, Chief Executive at Native Land, shared:
“KOVA KX breaks new ground for sustainable, Grade A lab and office space in a repurposed heritage building. Native Land is proud to have identified the potential of this opportunity within the Knowledge Quarter and attracted an investment partner to jointly realise a project of such quality. Beyond this, the asset’s inherent strengths of a prime-location, heritage value, intelligent specification and best-in-class amenities have all combined to create the success of KOVA KX.
“We have worked hard to ensure that our building at 105 Judd Street has become structurally and spatially ideal for transformation into the urban life science facility which has brought LifeArc to KOVA KX. With our partners AshbyCapital, Native Land has demonstrated that heritage buildings should and can be creatively repurposed to cater to the most exacting and demanding of property occupiers.”
Peter Ferrari, Chief Executive of AshbyCapital, said:
“The opportunity for life sciences real estate has been much talked about but this deal highlights that there is real demand for high-quality space in the right location. As one of the first buildings in the city to be repurposed to cater specifically to life sciences tenants, this letting is a strong vote of confidence in the sector and an example of the refurbishment of buildings and re-use of existing structures.”
With an office in Tavistock Square and scientific research facilities in Stevenage and Edinburgh, as well as a specialist science team working at the nearby Francis Crick Institute in London, LifeArc will be expanding its London footprint and expects to move into KOVA KX in the first half of 2027.
Find out more about the KOVA KX pre-let via CoStar: here.
