HIGHLIGHT: Beech proposes Salford co-living

Two sites close to the Langworthy Metrolink stop could be redeveloped into a 238-unit residential complex under plans lodged by the developer.

Beech Holdings has submitted proposals to Salford City Council for the creation of 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.

The developer already has permission to convert the existing Hollywood office building – located on one of the sites – into apartments but is now planning to knock it down to create one of the two co-living blocks.

The other site is currently used as a car park for residents at Brookfield House, another Beech office-to-resi scheme that completed recently.

Designed by Beech in-house, the co-living development aims to plug a gap in the market amid rising demand for rental properties in Manchester and its surrounds.

“Co-living can contribute to easing pressure by providing a professionally managed, turnkey residential solution that will appeal in style, amenities and services to the city’s young professional, graduate and transient communities,” according to a planning statement prepared by Paul Butler Associates.

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

The units are “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 planning statement explains.

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.

“We are really excited to be working alongside Salford City Council on this landmark development for the co-living sector,” said Beech founder Stephen Beech.

“The council has demonstrated great vision and foresight in recognising the need for this kind of community, and amenity lead offering. As well as providing quality apartments to a hugely undersupplied demographic in the area, the development will also create dozens of new jobs in both the construction and operation of the building.”

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

In March 2021, Beech founder Stephen Beech told Subplot that co-living is “what young graduates have been telling us they want since 2015”.