Salford rejects Beech’s co-living plan amid space concerns 

The developer has failed to convince the city council its residential development can provide residents with a “decent home or healthy living environment” but remains confident the scheme can succeed. 

Salford City Council has rejected Beech Holding’s plans to build a 238-unit co-living complex close to Langworthy Metrolink stop, prompting the developer into a rethink. 

Beech submitted proposals in June for two 10-storey blocks on the corner of Eccles New Road and South Langworthy Road, providing a mix of studio and one-bedroom options for residents. 

Speaking to Place North West in June, Beech founder Stephen Beech said the project would “provide quality apartments to a hugely undersupplied demographic in the area”. 

Beech is no stranger to the co-living concept, having already delivered schemes such as Westpoint in Trafford and City Co-living in Newcastle. 

However, its experience with the model, which trades off increased shared amenities for smaller private rooms, did not help its case in Salford. 

The city council said the development “fails to provide future occupants with an acceptable level of amenity, due to the size of the individual units and the size and types of available shared amenity spaces available”. 

Each unit would have provided a sleeping area or bedroom, a study area, a seating area, a shower room, storage, and kitchenette facilities.  

According to a planning statement prepared by Paul Butler Associates, the units within the scheme were “deliberately sized – 322 sq ft for a one-bed and 215 sq ft for a studio – efficiently to encourage residents to use the communal spaces and amenities which underpin the co-living concept”. 

The communal facilities – a key part of the co-living concept – include residents’ lounges, gyms, coworking spaces, multimedia events spaces, a pair of roof terraces, laundry facilities, and kitchen and dining areas.  

To learn more about the application, search for reference number 23/81688/FUL on Salford City Council’s planning portal. 

Following the refusal, Stephen Beech, chief executive of Beech said he intends to try again for planning approval. 

“Working positively with the council following the initial refusal, we’ve now had clear official feedback.  

“We’ll be submitting an updated application imminently with no additional fees, I’m confident that our final submission will be received positively, as it fully addresses their comments.” 

Should the scheme be rejected again, all is not lost for the developer. Beech already has permission to convert the existing Hollywood office building – located on one of the sites – into apartments. 

The refusal of Beech’s plans may make other developers proposing co-living schemes in Salford. Plans are currently in the works for two large schemes Progressive Living’s Gorton Street and Cert Property’s 30-storeey scheme on Clippers Quay.