"Perivale had 114 residents in 1921 and nearly 10,000 by 1951. The factories came first, strung along Western Avenue through the 1930s. Hoover opened its works in 1932 and employed more than 3,000 people by 1963, and its Art Deco building still stands on the A40. BizSpace's workshops on Wadsworth Road sit just behind it, with units from 610 sq ft. A district that grew up making vacuum cleaners now sits in one of the London boroughs where electricity became the scarce resource.
Why Ealing, Hillingdon and Hounslow ran short
In July 2022 the Greater London Authority told developers in Ealing, Hillingdon and Hounslow that data centres had taken up the available grid capacity, and that some new connections could wait until 2035. A London Assembly report in December 2025 warned that the capital's electricity demand could grow by 200% to 600%, and pointed out that data centres are classed alongside storage and distribution in planning. The draft London Plan, published in July 2026, proposes that they stop counting as industrial land.
For a warehouse tenant in west London, a unit with power already connected is worth more than its rent suggests. If you plan to charge electric vans on site or run chilled storage, get the supply capacity in writing before you sign.
What the Prime Minister has said about connections
In his first Commons statement, on 1 September, Andy Burnham said it was ""taking far too long for businesses to get grid connections"". On 29 September he announced Great British Grid, a publicly owned company inside Great British Energy that will invest alongside the private network companies to speed up connections for businesses. There is no timetable, and its long-term funding waits for a future spending review.
His offer of new devolution deals is aimed at places without them, so it changes little in London. Sadiq Khan's request, made the same week, is to keep more of the capital's business rates.
Less land, dearer space
London lost 18% of its industrial land, around 1,500 hectares, between 2001 and 2020. The draft London Plan drops the rule of no net loss and concedes that the previous push to build industrial space upwards ""has not significantly increased"" floorspace. Consultation closes on 15 October 2026.
Knight Frank put the top rent in west London at £29.50 per sq ft in the second quarter of 2026, for units over 50,000 sq ft. In Beckton, 1A and 1B Whitings Way are listed on 4wallsspaces at the equivalent of £19.75 per sq ft. Business rates rose too: the April 2026 revaluation lifted industrial rateable values in London by 20% to 25%. The one easing is vacancy, which CoStar reported in March 2026 had reached a 15-year high.
Who London suits now
A business that needs to be inside the M25 and close to its customers has more choice than it did a few years ago, and landlords with empty units have reason to negotiate. A business that needs a new high-capacity connection in the west, soon, should look for units with the power already in place, or look further out. The listings below show what is available now.
FAQ
Why is there a grid shortage in west London?
In July 2022 the Greater London Authority said data centres had taken up the available grid capacity in Ealing, Hillingdon and Hounslow, with some new connections delayed until 2035.
How much does warehouse space cost in London?
Knight Frank put the top rent in west London at £29.50 per sq ft a year in the second quarter of 2026, for units over 50,000 sq ft. In Beckton, units at Whitings Way are listed on 4wallsspaces at about £19.75 per sq ft.
What is Great British Grid?
A publicly owned body within Great British Energy, announced by Andy Burnham on 29 September 2026, intended to speed up grid connections for businesses and bring down energy costs. It will invest alongside private network companies.
How much industrial land has London lost?
Around 1,500 hectares, or 18%, between 2001 and 2020. The draft London Plan published in July 2026 is out for consultation until 15 October 2026.
Can I rent a small workshop in west London?
Yes. BizSpace Perivale on Wadsworth Road, behind the Hoover Building on the A40, has workshop units from 610 sq ft."
