• Swindon & Wiltshire Property
• Thursday February 26 2026

Bristol co-living scheme will help young professionals, say architects

Revised plans for a modern co-living complex in Bristol have been submitted by Alec French Architects, who say it will help to address the chronic shortage of affordable housing in the city.

The proposed residential building in Southville would provide 100 one-bedroom studio apartments and high-quality communal facilities for young professionals and key workers.

The applicants have reduced the number of studio apartments by 13 in response to local planners’ comments and to comply with Bristol City Council’s draft Co-living Supplementary Planning Document.

This will enable the developer behind the scheme, Land & Buildings, to increase the size of the apartments which will range from 20 m² to 27 m².

The proposed St John’s Gate co-living scheme in Coronation Road will feature a variety of shared spaces including communal kitchens and lounges, a gym and a co-working space for residents.

The plans also include communal gardens, courtyard spaces, and rooftop terraces offering panoramic views of the city. If approved, the development will replace a 1950s office block, two poor quality houses and other unused structures which have become an eyesore.

The application, submitted to Bristol City Council, is for a change of use to an existing planning consent for the residential redevelopment of the brownfield site, changing it to co-living use.

Alec French has also taken measures to increase daylight levels and expand the building’s internal and external communal areas.

Mercedes Cebrian, an associate architect at Alec French, said the St John’s Gate co-living scheme would help to address the shortage of low-cost homes for the city’s key workers.

“We have listened carefully to city planners and believe our revised scheme will provide a range of benefits for the local area, while complying fully with draft planning standards for co-living in Bristol,” she said.

“The provision of 100 co-living studios in an area with a notable shortage of housing suitable for single people will help to relieve pressure on the family housing market.

“It will also greatly improve what has become an eyesore site. We propose to replace a run-down structure with a building of higher architectural quality that will be sensitive to the local surroundings.”

Neil Cartwright, strategy director at Land & Buildings said: “We are delighted with the updated scheme, which involved Alec French and Bristol City Council planners working closely together to improve the original submission.

“A consent for the change of use to a co-living scheme will ensure that a new development can be delivered.”