BioMed Realty, a Blackstone portfolio company, has appointed a new director of leasing in the UK.
BioMed Realty provides real estate solutions to the life science and technology industries.
William Clarke joins from Savills’ Cambridge office, where he has spent the last 10 years directly involved in the city’s office, R&D and laboratory leasing markets.
Clarke, who will liaise with BioMed Realty’s network of leasing brokers, will work closely with prospective tenants as the company looks to advance leasing activity across its growing UK portfolio.
BioMed Realty owns and operates nearly 1 million ft2 (92,900 m2) of Class A laboratory and office space in Cambridge. Across the UK and US, the company has more than 19 million ft2 of space under occupation and development.
Clarke was instrumental in leading R&D and life science leasing activity for Savills’ Cambridge team.
He has spent the last decade working closely with companies of all sizes – ranging from start-ups and scale-ups to blue-chips – and was responsible for several landmark instructions.
Clarke’s appointment comes as BioMed Realty embarks on significant expansion plans in Cambridge. Within the region, the company has assembled a pipeline that will deliver up to 1 million square feet of additional Class A space for life science companies.
The UK biotech sector raised about £1.2 bn (€1.36 bn) through venture capital funding in 2022 – the third best year ever recorded – and within Cambridge, the increased investment level has resulted in heightened demand for life science space.
According to market data tracked by BioMed Realty, heightened activity levels mean there is less than 1 percent vacancy for lab / office space in Cambridge, UK, with more than 1 million square feet of demand.
