Bristol’s First Major Co-living Tower Block to Remove Communal Areas
Developers in Bristol plan to eliminate communal spaces to add more rooms in a new co-living tower, raising concerns among locals.
Bristol, UK, Co-living, Housing, Development
Bristol: So, there’s this new co-living tower going up in the city, right? The developers want to change the original plans by getting rid of communal kitchens and dining areas on each floor. Instead, they’re looking to squeeze in more rooms for more people. Sounds a bit cramped, doesn’t it?
They’re also asking to remove all the balconies from the 18-story building. The council will review these changes next week, and it looks like they might get the green light again. Work has already kicked off with the demolition of the old Beefeater restaurant at the Haymarket.
Last year, the developers got the thumbs up for this project, which will also see the Premier Inn tower come down soon. They’re planning to build a bunch of towers, including student accommodation that’ll be between 15 and 28 stories tall. It’s a big deal for the area.
This co-living concept is pretty new for Bristol. It’s like student housing but for everyone. Each person gets their own en-suite room with a little kitchenette, and they share a floor with others. It’s kind of like living in a big flat together.
There will be some shared facilities too, like a gym and a roof garden. Originally, each floor was supposed to have its own kitchen and social area, but now they want to replace those with more rooms. The shared spaces will be moved to the 16th and 17th floors, and one of them can be rented out for private use.
The demolition of the Beefeater is set for October 2024, making way for two new towers. A spokesperson for the developers said they made these changes due to new fire regulations that require more safety features. They’re planning to increase the number of rooms from 132 to 150, with some being affordable for those on the housing waiting list.
They’re excited about transforming the site and improving access to public transport. However, not everyone is on board with these changes. Some locals feel it’s just a way to cram more people in without addressing the real housing issues in Bristol.
There are concerns about losing shared spaces and how that might affect the community vibe. People are worried that having to go up several floors to use a kitchen isn’t very practical. Plus, the loss of balconies is a bummer, especially since they’re not making the roof terrace any bigger.
Next Wednesday, the planning committee will meet to decide on these amendments. It’ll be interesting to see how this all plays out!