Places for Growth is coming to Lockton Street Arches and PBC is meeting them there!

Under the arches of Latimer Road was once a quiet stretch of railway brickwork is being reimagined into a vibrant hub for small and ambitious businesses, a place where ideas can grow, creativity can flourish and local enterprise can take centre stage.

For years, these arches stood unused. Now, they are becoming part of a bigger vision. Places for London is launching its first-ever Places for Growth location at Lockton Street Arches, a programme built to give new and ambitious businesses the platform they need to accelerate their development. 11 newly refurbished arches will open from early 2026, creating new space, new opportunities and a new chapter for North Kensington.

Portobello Business Centre is proud to be a delivery partner in this transformation. Our role is simple but powerful: to ensure that every entrepreneur who steps into these arches feels supported, equipped and ready to grow.

Through our partnership with TfL, future occupants will have access to:

• One-to-one business support, tailored to their goals

• Mentoring and expert guidance through their early years on the estate

• On-site workshops focused on marketing, finance, planning and resilience

• Networking opportunities that connect founders to each other and the wider community

This isn’t just about opening commercial units. It’s about building an ecosystem where local talent can take real steps forward.

Join the First Free Business Planning WorkshopEvery new chapter starts with a single step, and for many local entrepreneurs, this step will begin at our first free business-planning workshop. In collaboration with Places for London, we’re launching a session designed to help founders pause, reflect and map out the future with intention.

As we open this partnership, we wanted to create a moment that brings people together a space where early ideas can be shaped, ambitions sharpened and 2026 approached with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re preparing to apply for an arch or simply want to strengthen your direction, this workshop is your opportunity to invest in yourself and set strong foundations for the year ahead.

We’ll guide you through the Places for Growth criteria, share what makes a compelling application and help you understand how to position your business for long-term success.

Places for Growth is built for innovators. For courageous founders who know their business has potential and just need the right environment to unlock it. It’s designed for those ready to take their next step, whether that means securing their first commercial premises, moving on from a smaller space or expanding into a second location. 

Applications open on 14 January 2026, assessed against clear criteria including business strength, community value and readiness to grow.

For PBC, this workshop and this partnership reflects what we stand for: creating pathways, opening doors and making entrepreneurship accessible to the people who drive this community forward. Working alongside TfL allows us to support more founders, strengthen local enterprise and help write the next chapter of North Kensington’s business story.