Rio Architects-designed scheme the largest co-living project to be granted construction approval by the BSR

Olympian Homes’ 46-storey tower in Canary Wharf has been granted gateway 2 consent, becoming the UK’s tallest co-living building to pass the planning hurdle.

The 56 Marsh Wall scheme, designed by Rio Architects, will contain 805 co-living studio apartments with an average unit size of 24 sq m.

56 Marsh Wall 4

The Building Safety Regulator’s approval means the scheme, one of the largest new residential towers in the Docklands, is finally clear to start construction almost three years after its planning application was approved by Tower Hamlets council.

Olympian Homes founder and chairman Mark Slatter said: “This milestone is the culmination of five years of hard work on the planning and the Gateway 2 process. It has not been easy but the BSR regime is improving all the time.”

Will Sharpey, the firm’s associate construction director, added: “We entered the BSR under the original format last year, and although the process was long, it was ultimately a highly rewarding journey. 

“Obtaining Gateway 2 consent for a co-living high-rise of this scale brought a unique set of regulatory, design and operational complexities, making the achievement all the more significant.”

The planning application for 56 Marsh Wall was first submitted in 2022 and approved in July the following year.

Residents of the building will share kitchen, living and dining spaces, with the scheme also offering “hotel-style facilities” including a 24 hour concierge, cafe, cinema, gym, shared workspaces and a winter garden.

The tower is the flagship development on Olympian’s Vivus Living brand, which is focusing on co-living schemes with 350 or more units. The brand is initially being centred on London, with Olympian claiming to have identified a £2bn pipeline of schemes.