Founded in 1795 by Matthew Boulton and James Watt, Soho Foundry was created as a place where ideas became engines and invention reshaped the world. Built for endurance, it powered the industrial age through precision manufacturing. Through a request from the World Monuments Fund and the Chance Heritage Trust, BLF helped facilitate a dialogue session with key local partners and communities, to reframe Soho Foundry not as a relic, but as a living manufactory once again. This work identified shared needs, built alignment, and set out a practical roadmap for ownership, governance, activation, and delivery.

From this came a clear vision: sensitive reuse rooted in inclusive heritage regeneration. The outcome is momentum with potential plans for early activation, new industries, green skills, and community engagement – ensuring the Foundry has a future as a place for making, employment, and inspiration. What began as steam and iron now becomes a platform for future innovation.