The Foundry at 17 Oval Way is a RIBA award-winning, BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rated centre purpose-built for organisations driving social justice and human rights. Originally an industrial shoe polish factory, the building was transformed in 2014 into a beautifully light and spacious workplace, winning London Building of the Year at the Royal Institute of British Architects’ awards. Born from a joint venture between Trust for London, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, Barrow Cadbury Trust, Lankelly Chase Foundation and The Ethical Property Company, it remains a landmark for mission-driven work in the capital.
Community sits at the heart of The Foundry. Tenants work alongside like-minded organisations, sharing ideas, resources and connections across a vibrant calendar of events that serves both the internal community and the wider Vauxhall neighbourhood. This is a building where social impact is the shared purpose, not the exception.
Managed by The Ethical Property Company, a forward-thinking organisation that believes property should serve society, the planet and the economy, The Foundry offers flexible leases, meeting rooms free for workspace renters, conference facilities, and breakout space. The wider Ethical Property network spans 8 UK Cites but in London located in Bethnal Green, Islington, Vauxhall and Shoreditch, creating a London-wide community of positive change.
Vauxhall station provides genuine transport crossroads: Victoria line services, mainline rail, and extensive bus routes converge at one interchange. Proximity to Westminster and Lambeth civic institutions suits organisations bridging grassroots delivery and systemic change, particularly those working in housing, regeneration, environmental campaigning, and community development.
Fair rents, not maximum commercial returns, underpin the model, enabling charities, not-for-profits and social enterprises to maintain a professional central London presence. At The Foundry, policy influence and grassroots creativity converge naturally.
