At Freedom Works, our mission is simple: provide affordable, flexible workspaces that help people and communities thrive. That vision came to life once again with the launch of Freedom Works – Barts House in central Brighton.
This innovative project was delivered in partnership with Brighton & Hove City Council, transforming underused council office space into a vibrant coworking and private office hub – supporting local businesses, job creation, and the wider economy.
Transforming council space into economic opportunity
Brighton is one of the UK’s fastest-growing economies, but like many local authorities, Brighton & Hove City Council faces ongoing financial pressures. With the rise of hybrid working, large employers like councils need less office space. That change opened the door for a new kind of thinking.
“Post-pandemic, nationally we have witnessed a huge shift in how offices are used by large employers, such as councils, now they don’t need as much space as they once did with hybrid working,” explains Jon Trigg, Founder and Managing Director of Freedom Works. “So, rather than sitting on empty space, which is costing them money, forward-thinking local authorities are looking at clever ways to utilise their space to generate income, whilst providing a good economic and social outcome.”
That’s exactly what this partnership set out to achieve.
A workspace designed for the community
Freedom Works – Barts House now offers 16,000 sq ft of high-quality, flexible workspace in the heart of the Lanes, while still allowing the council to operate from the same building in a more efficient, hybrid model.
We’ve refurbished two floors of Bartholomew House into:
- 40 private offices (for teams of 2 to 70)
- Coworking spaces for freelancers and remote workers
- 5 bookable meeting rooms
- All supported by fast Wi-Fi, break-out areas, community kitchens, and networking events
The aim? To create a hub that’s not only functional, but accessible and affordable to Brighton’s diverse business community.
“Our focus will be to create affordable office space, as well as hot desking to the businesses and entrepreneurs of Brighton & Hove,” adds Trigg. “We’ll continue to deliver our partnership of delivering business support through relationships like Barclays Eagle Labs, into the Brighton site, providing a supportive environment for our members.”
Supporting local growth and social value
Freedom Works – Barts House is expected to support up to 150 members and deliver wide-reaching benefits to the city.
The impact goes beyond just desk space. The site is set to:
- Add an estimated £120,000 annually to the local economy, largely through lunchtime and nearby retail trade
- Enable the creation of a minimum of 12 full-time jobs
- Provide an affordable base for new and growing businesses across the region
“Being a proud Brightonian, I can’t wait to see the space we are creating, add value for not only our local economy by providing much needed affordable city centre space, but equally to help support the community with the revenue we will generate for the council,” says Trigg.
A council committed to innovation
This project also demonstrates the power of smart partnerships between the public and private sectors. Brighton & Hove City Council saw the opportunity to turn unused space into something valuable for everyone.
Councillor Jacob Taylor, Deputy Leader and Lead for Finance, said:
“This exciting new workspace in the thriving heart of the city provides an excellent opportunity for businesses.
“Our partnership with Freedom Works will create needed workspace in the city, support local economic growth while also providing the council with a new source of income.
“It’s by adopting innovative approaches to generating income we can protect front-line council services while supporting local economic growth and also adding social value—enabling diverse local businesses and communities to flourish.
“I look forward to visiting the new workspace and seeing how it benefits Brighton & Hove businesses in the community.”
Join us at Barts House
Brighton’s business landscape is growing, and Freedom Works – Barts House is right at the centre of it. Whether you’re a freelancer, a remote worker, a small team, or a scaling business, this workspace offers the flexibility, affordability and community support to help you grow.
Located on Black Lion Street, some offices even enjoy sea views.
To arrange a tour or find out more, contact us on 01273 977220 or email [email protected].
