Castleforge has agreed a landmark partnership with Heritage of London Trust to deliver a new cultural and educational hub for young people at One Golden Lane, forming a major cultural anchor for the City by 2026.
The London-based real estate investor has signed a lease with the charity to create a dedicated Proud Places Hub on the ground floor of the historic building.
The Trust – which has worked with more than 10,000 young people across the capital in the past five years – will transform part of the retained heritage wing behind the building’s 1896 façade into a free creative, craft and heritage space for 11–18-year-olds.
One Golden Lane, originally designed by Tate Britain architect Sidney Smith, has been redeveloped by Castleforge into 120,000 sq ft of contemporary workspace, including 7,000 sq ft of landscaped terraces (main picture).
CULTURE MILE
Placemaking consultancy Futurecity has shaped the building’s cultural strategy as part of the wider Culture Mile initiative to broaden access to arts, skills and cultural engagement across the Square Mile.
The Proud Places Hub aims to reach young people from alternative provision schools, refugee backgrounds and low-income households.
The Trust says 82% of past participants report an increased sense of belonging following involvement in its programmes. The new space will sit at the intersection of affluence and deprivation: some nearby City wards record crime rates 77% above the national average despite the district’s global wealth.
LEARNING AND INCLUSION
Dr Nicola Stacey, director of Heritage of London Trust, says that the project would revive the site’s social mission: “The Cripplegate Institute once stood here as a beacon of learning and inclusion.
“The Proud Places Hub revives that same purpose for a new generation.”
Alongside hands-on workshops, the Hub will host the Trust’s Proud Prospects career pathway programme, connecting young people with City employers, creative industries and design professionals through mentoring, events and exhibitions.
James Locke of Castleforge adds that the partnership ensured the building “won’t just be a workplace, but a place that invests in the next generation of Londoners.”
The Proud Places Hub is scheduled to open in May 2026.
