Work/live studio vacancies: Fire Station
What’s available
- Four work/live studios in our Fire Station building, Poplar
- Available from approx. late July/August 2025, for three years
- Each studio's rent is £850 PCM plus electric and council tax (rents fixed for three years)
- Rent includes water, maintenance, management, building insurance, WIFI and communal cleaning.
Building access
The building is a grade II listed former LCC (London County Council) fire station for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, built in 1911. The work/live studios were originally built as accommodation for the firefighters, then developed in 1997 after Acme’s purchase. This means that the individual properties are not identical in their layouts and access within the studios varies.
There is level access throughout the building including level entrance from the street. A narrow corridor with two internal doors on digi locks leads to the stairs, lift and rear yard. The work/live properties are on floors 1-3. Some of the work/live properties do not have level access into the shower. Kitchens currently have fixed work surfaces.
The rear yard has six restricted parking spaces, which includes one blue badge bay. Vehicle access to the yard is through a roller shutter operated by key fob. The parking bays are intended for loading and unloading only, any artist requiring a permanent bay would need to seek prior agreement with Acme. There is no parking permitted at the front of the building.
Acme is committed to ensuring its buildings are physically accessible wherever practical. Regarding applications to the Fire Station work/live we will consider an artist’s needs, and any adaptations required in consultation with the individual.
Building location
The building is located on a slip road beside the A12. This is the approach road to the Blackwall tunnel and is regularly congested at peak hours. The windows in the work/live studios have secondary glazing to reduce noise, we do not advise opening the windows which face onto the road.
The building's neighbours include a storage facility and a vehicle depot for Veolia. There is also a large area of land behind the Fire Station under development. The works are Phase 1 of a 20-year regeneration scheme, more details of the Ailsa Wharf development can be found here.
Next steps
If you wish to be entered into the draw to view this work/live studio you will need to complete an Expression of Interest and demonstrate eligibility.
Deadline: 12 midnight Sunday 30 March 2025
Once the deadline has passed, names will be selected by a random generator and invitations emailed to those artists.
If you receive an invitation, you will be eligible to book a viewing for one of the following dates:
- Friday 11 April, 1pm – 3pm
- Saturday 12 April, 12pm – 2:30pm