The proposed new residential building on a run-down brownfield site in Southville would provide 113 one-bedroom studio apartments and high-quality communal living facilities for local people.
The application is effectively a change of use to an existing planning consent for the residential redevelopment of the site, changing it to co-living use facilitated by some minor design alterations and improved sustainability credentials.
The development site, on the corner of Coronation Road and St John’s Road, currently consists of a three-storey office block built in the 1950s, a vacant unused shed and a single garage which have become an eyesore.
The new St John’s Gate co-living scheme, which would range in height from two to five storeys, offers a variety of shared spaces including communal kitchens and lounges, a gym and a co-working space for residents.
The plans, submitted to Bristol City Council on behalf of the developer Land & Buildings, also include communal gardens, courtyard spaces, and rooftop terraces, plus ample bike storage for residents to encourage sustainable travel.
The revised application features additional sustainability and waste reduction measures as well. The proposed building will be connected to the Bristol Heat Network, delivering affordable, low-carbon heat, and there is no gas connection proposed for the site.
It will be constructed using the latest passive building design techniques, resulting in a 58% reduction in carbon emissions beyond the Building Regulations Part L targets. This is far above the council target of 20% improvements on these levels.
Louis Lane, associate director at Alec French Architects, said the St John’s Gate co-living development would help to address the shortage of low-cost homes in Bristol’s city centre.
“It will provide affordable but high-quality rental accommodation for key workers and young professionals which is badly needed in the city,”
added Louis.
"Co-living developments address a growing challenge within cities like Bristol that has been getting progressively worse for many years. How can the people who need to live in our city centres afford to do so as land values rise ever higher and development costs continue to soar?
“Co-living offers an answer to this problem by providing key workers with affordable, one-bedroom apartments and shared, high-quality services in a desirable location. This provides an alternative housing provision to opting for a house share or settling for apartments of lower quality or in less convenient locations.
“We also believe that the redevelopment of the buildings in St John’s Road will breathe new life into what has become an unattractive site. It will greatly improve the urban character of this area and provide passive security into Lucky Lane while also delivering attractive homes on a brownfield site.”
Land & Buildings are jointly developing the site with the current owner, Castlemead. The site owners say the existing office block no longer meets the needs of prospective tenants due to a lack of accessible entrances, poor insulation and energy inefficient heating.
There are also a lack of community areas for collaboration and social interaction. The office block is located in a predominantly residential area with limited business activity, so offers little beneficial employment space.
Land & Buildings’ design director, Mark Watkins, said:
“We are proud to be a part of this exciting scheme to bring much-needed residential accommodation into this part of Bristol, providing an attractive and contextually fitting building to this part of Coronation Road.”
Neil Cartwright, one of the founders of Land & Buildings, added:
“St John’s Gate will provide Bristol with much-needed affordable studios for rent in the city centre for key workers and young couples.”