Meet a member of our Property Owner Group

We caught up with Abdul Hai, Director of Community Relations and Public Affairs at LabTech, who also sits on our Property Owner Group and the CDA Board to talk about the BID area and our new PBID plans. With a strong interest in the long‑term success of Holborn, Bloomsbury and St Giles, Abdul shares his views on what makes the area special, where change is needed and how a future PBID could support continued improvements. 

What’s your favourite part of Holborn, Bloomsbury and St Giles, and what makes this area stand out to you?

For me personally, the highlights are the British Museum, Lamb’s Conduit Street and Centre Point building, each of which reflects a different but equally compelling aspect of the area’s character.

Having grown up locally and lived on Rugby Street, just off Lamb’s Conduit Street, I have always felt a strong connection to these neighbourhoods.  Some of my earliest memories include visiting the British Museum as a child, spending time shopping with my father and walking past Centre Point on the way to Oxford Street, experiencing first-hand the vibrancy and movement of central London life.

The area is also distinguished by globally respected institutions such as Lincoln’s Inn and the London School of Economics and Political Science, alongside a thriving business community.  The arrival of the Elizabeth line has further strengthened connectivity, supporting growth, attracting investment and reinforcing the area’s role as a key part of London’s economic and cultural landscape.

From your perspective, what works well locally, and what would you most like to see improve over time?

There is a strong and deepening connection between local businesses and the surrounding neighbourhoods, with CDA working closely with key partners to deliver a wide range of employment, entrepreneurial and environmental initiatives that continue to benefit local residents.

A leading example of this collaboration is Princes Circus, where a previously underutilised space has been successfully transformed in partnership with Camden Council into a high-quality public realm.  The new square now offers a greener and more welcoming environment, with enhanced seating and increased planting, creating an attractive space that encourages people to dwell and enjoy the area.

While ongoing utility works, road maintenance and associated diversions can present challenges for businesses and the public, CDA remains actively engaged with the local authority and service providers to improve coordination, reduce disruption wherever possible, and support the continued vitality and success of the area.

What opportunities do you see a PBID creating for the area?

A PBID in Holborn, Bloomsbury and St Giles would provide a strategic framework to align long-term property ownership with place-making, investment and neighbourhood improvement across the district.

It would enable landlords and major asset holders to take a long-term view of area performance, supporting sustained investment in the public realm, streetscape quality and the built environment and reinforcing the area’s position as a high-quality central London destination.

It would also strengthen collaboration between landlords, occupiers, local authorities and infrastructure providers, improving coordination of works and reducing disruption from utilities and maintenance activity.

In addition, it would help build a more cohesive identity for Holborn, Bloomsbury and St Giles as a single, recognisable destination, supporting cultural programming, events and destination marketing.  It would also provide a unified voice for engagement with Camden Council and other stakeholders on planning, infrastructure and investment priorities, supporting long-term stewardship, resilience and continued investment across the area.

For those who may not know LabTech, could you tell us a bit about the business and its presence locally?

LabTech is a London-based real estate and experience-led business that owns and manages a 20-acre portfolio across Camden Market and the West End.  The business focuses on creating connected destinations where people can live, work, shop and socialise, spanning retail, hospitality, workspace, and residential experiences.

LABS is a flexible workspace brand offering design-led offices, coworking spaces, meeting rooms and event venues across London, with a strong presence in the Holborn and Camden Town areas of the London Borough of Camden.  LABS was created to support a wide range of businesses, from startups and scale-ups to established global brands, by providing high-quality, community-focused workspaces that encourage collaboration, creativity and growth.

Locally, LABS has become a key part of Camden’s evolving business ecosystem, bringing together a diverse community of creative, tech, and entrepreneurial businesses while contributing to the area’s wider cultural and economic activity.

Looking ahead, what’s next for LabTech in the area and how do you see the district evolving in the coming years?

The focus for LABS is continuing to enhance the workplace experience through flexible, hospitality-led environments that support how businesses want to work today.  This includes investing in amenities, events, and spaces that encourage collaboration and wellbeing.

Looking ahead, we see the Holborn area continuing to evolve as one of London’s most exciting districts, attracting innovative businesses, entrepreneurial talent, and a growing mix of cultural and commercial activity.  Flexible workspaces like LABS will continue to play an important role in shaping that growth by creating environments where businesses and communities can thrive together.