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Tallest Co-Living Tower Gets Gateway 2
Olympian Homes’ co-living scheme at 56 Marsh Wall, Canary Wharf, has now been granted Gateway 2 permission making it the tallest co-living scheme in the UK to get a Gateway 2 approval.
The scheme of 46 storeys and 833 studios with an average unit size of 24sq.m is the flagship of Olympian’s Vivus Living co living brand. Vivus Living will offer a slightly larger studio size than the current norm. It will also target schemes of 350 units plus, so it can provide a meaningful amenity offering with commercial sized gyms, spa and wellness areas, along with living, dining and working amenity located throughout the scheme to allow easy access rather than concentrating it all in either lower or higher areas.
Luxury
The brand will feature hotel style facilities such as 24 hour concierge, a full food and beverage offering including room service, private meeting rooms and function rooms for events. All the schemes will however aim for Sui Generis planning to avoid the higher operational costs associated with C1 (Hotel consent that some schemes operate which currently avoid affordable housing and the Gateway process).
Vivus will focus on London initially having identified a £2 billion pipeline before rolling it out in major UK cities.
In 2025 Olympian had 1.8 million sq.ft of PBSA and BTR development under construction over six sites but this will be its first wholly co living scheme.
Demolition scheduled
Demolition will commence on 1 April and Savills are being appointed as agents to seek equity partners for the Marsh Wall scheme and for the brand roll out.
Mark Slatter, the chairman of Olympian Homes, said: “This milestone is the culmination of five years hard work on the planning and the Gateway 2 process. It has not been easy but the BSR regime is improving all the time. In my 33 years in the business this scheme and the Vivus brand is by far the most exciting project I have been involved. I am looking look forward to finding the right equity partners in this still very challenging market to deliver this much needed affordable alternative to BTR.”
Complexities
Will Sharpey, te associate construction director said “We entered the BSR under the original format last year. 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. We were expertly guided throughout by the Regulatory Lead, Olanrewaju Bello, whose performance was exceptional. Our thanks go to RG Group and the entire Professional Team, whose tenacity, ingenuity and resilience have been instrumental in achieving success on this landmark scheme.”
Lizzie Beagley, the head of UK PBSA & Co-Living at Savills, said: “Savills are thrilled to hear this prominent scheme has reached this important milestone and look forward assisting with delivery of one of London’s few prime co living opportunities with Gateway 2”.
Picture: The Canary Wharf co living scheme at Marsh Wall has achieved Gateway 2 Approval.
Article written by Brian Shillibeer
25th February 2026