The Loop: Call for innovators seeking space in Hackney Wick

ReLondon and Hackney Wick & Fish Island Community Development Trust (HWFI CDT) are pleased to be teaming up to create a circular, low-waste neighbourhood in Hackney Wick & Fish Island under the banner of ReRoute. ReRoute is a project designed by local people and businesses in Hackney Wick and Fish Island aimed at tackling climate change by coordinating local action and working together. 

The Loop is based at a temporary site at 119 Wallis Road in its first iteration and is available for a minimum of 12 months and up to 2 years. At the end of this period, the site will move to its permanent site in or around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, with location yet to be defined. This unique hub will host a cluster of businesses working on the circular economy. By being part of this pioneering project, you will play a key role on developing and scaling a hub that aims to create a closed loop system within a hyper localised area, to serve Hackney Wick. Tenants of The Loop will also have the opportunity to develop relationships with Hackney Council, LLDC/ SHIFT Future Industries Demonstrator, HWFI CDT, ReLondon and UCL’s academic network.

We are currently inviting local innovators to apply for the following spaces:

Desk & Studio Workspace

The new site will offer a flexible number of desks in an open-plan workspace, with access to knowledge and resources from UCL academic business support and network. This space will be dedicated to any circular businesses seeking to trial and prototype new processes and undertake R&D locally related to the circular economy.

If you are interested in desk and studio space, please download the information document and check the eligibility criteria.

To apply, please complete the online application form here. The online registration form asks for basic information about your business, as well as what you are currently doing around the circular economy and how you intend to support the objectives of the site. 

Desk spaces will be allocated on a rolling basis and subject to availability on a first-come-first-served basis. 

Operational Space

The site will also offer space for light-industrial use, for circular businesses offering specific solutions in food and packaging, and/or for food and drink waste, particularly in the context of hospitality; and that want to improve and scale their processes. The space will be dedicated to specific circular businesses whose core product or service is:

• supplying circular packaging solution for the food and drinks sector (e.g. reusable container systems; innovative biodegradable packaging materials; alternatives to single use packaging)

and/or

•  providing an innovative solution to tackle food and drink waste, particularly in the context of hospitality (e.g. new applications for food waste from cafes; redistributing surplus to restaurants).

If you are interested in operational space, please download the information document and check the eligibility criteria.

To apply for operational space, please complete the online application form here no later than 8th December 2023, specifying which facilities at The Loop you would like to be considered for. 

More Information

Following your submission, ReLondon and HWFI CDT will carefully review your application to ensure your business meets the eligibility criteria and the aims of the project. 

Questions should be submitted by email addressed to business transformation’s business engagement lead Mafalda Oliveira at business@relondon.gov.uk by 27th November. Responses to questions will be communicated by 1st December. 

If you would like to join a site visit with other potential tenants on 1st December 9am – 12pm please express your interest by email addressed to business transformation’s business engagement lead Mafalda Oliveira at business@relondon.gov.uk (agenda to follow). 

We aim to get back to all applicants, regardless of their outcome, by 18th December 2023.