Park Royal Circular Economy Hub Aims to Boost Recycling
Providing a base for businesses that reuse industrial waste materials
The Minverva Works in Park Royal. Picture: Ealing Council
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August 28, 2025
A new creative workspace has opened in Park Royal, providing a base for local businesses focused on reusing and recycling industrial waste materials. Known as Minerva Works, the site operates as a circular economy hub where discarded items are repurposed into art and functional products. The initiative is expected to create 35 jobs and reclaim at least 20 tonnes of waste over its operational lifetime.
The hub, owned by the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), opened in spring 2025 and offers workshops and training in green skills. Materials being reused include clay extracted from HS2 construction sites, deconstructed film sets, tyres, high-visibility workwear, straw, and surplus printing inks. OPDC acquired the building in Minerva Road in 2024 with plans to convert it into an energy centre by 2026. In the interim, the site has been repurposed to support creative and environmental projects.
Minerva Works is part of the Acton and Park Royal Creative Enterprise Zone (CEZ), a partnership between Ealing Council and OPDC, supported by the Mayor of London. The zone includes over 345 businesses and 6,000 jobs, with a strong focus on cultural production.
The workspace is managed by Republic of Park Royal, a local organisation providing affordable space for artists and makers. Current occupants include Re-collective, a network that repurposes timber from film sets for community use; Rescued Clay, which transforms construction site clay into artworks for new buildings; and Absolute Beginners, a youth-led project teaching sustainable craft techniques using reclaimed materials. The hub also hosts Anzen, a start-up developing energy-efficient ventilation units using repurposed technology.
Local politicianshave expressed support for the initiative. Ealing Council leader Peter Mason highlighted the borough’s creative talent and the CEZ’s role in promoting sustainability and inclusion. OPDC chief executive David Lunts noted the diversity of businesses in Park Royal and the importance of supporting waste reduction efforts. Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal emphasised the council’s commitment to creating jobs and spaces for entrepreneurs. Jonathan Brewin, director of Republic of Park Royal, described the project as a way to invest in the existing community and shape the area’s future identity.
The hub continues to offer opportunities for collaboration, volunteering, and public engagement. Local residents and businesses interested in sustainability and creative reuse are encouraged to get involved. The Foundry Collective’s shop in North Acton showcases products made at the hub, and an open studio event is scheduled for the London Design Festival on 13 and 14 September 2025.
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