Life sciences is a real estate asset class in its own right and has been for a number of years. With the increasing necessity for new medicines and better healthcare, together with an ageing population, real estate has a strategic role to play in the provision of new space for life sciences ventures (as demonstrated by GSK's new premises in Weybridge). 

If there was any doubt, Covid-19 has certainly accelerated the focus on life sciences generally. The real estate requirements for life sciences companies has increased in terms of greater and more bespoke space for laboratories, research and development facilities and offices. The potential for growth in this sector is clear with interest from real estate investors and developers in a sector supported by strong real estate fundamentals…..certainly more to follow for the role of real estate in the continued development of the life sciences sector.