Olympian secures Gateway 2 approval for Marsh Wall co-living tower
46-storey Canary Wharf scheme set to become UK’s tallest co-living development
4 March 2026
Olympian Homes has secured Gateway 2 approval for its 46-storey co-living development at 56 Marsh Wall, Canary Wharf, marking what the developer says is the tallest co-living scheme in the UK to achieve consent under the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) regime.
The 833-studio scheme will form the flagship project for Olympian’s new co-living brand, Vivus Living. With an average studio size of 24 sq m, the development is designed to exceed prevailing unit sizes in the sector and support a substantial amenity offering.
The tower will include commercial-scale gym facilities, spa and wellness areas, and a range of shared living, dining and working spaces distributed throughout the building. Hotel-style services are also planned, including a 24-hour concierge, food and beverage provision, room service, private meeting rooms and event spaces.
Olympian said all Vivus schemes will seek Sui Generis planning consent rather than C1 hotel use, citing the higher operational costs associated with hotel classification and the need to comply fully with the Gateway process and affordable housing requirements.
Demolition is scheduled to commence on 1 April, with Savills appointed to seek equity partners both for the Marsh Wall project and the wider Vivus brand rollout. The developer has identified a £2bn pipeline in London before expanding into other major UK cities.
The Marsh Wall scheme represents Olympian’s first wholly co-living development, following 1.8 million sq ft of PBSA and build-to-rent projects under construction across six sites in 2025.
Mark Slatter, chairman and founder of Olympian Homes, said the Gateway 2 milestone follows five years of planning and regulatory work, describing the project as the most significant of his career. He acknowledged the challenges of the BSR regime but said the process is improving.
Will Sharpey, associate construction director, said achieving Gateway 2 approval for a high-rise co-living building of this scale involved significant regulatory, design and operational complexity. He credited the wider professional team and contractor RG Group for navigating the process.
Lizzie Beagley, head of UK PBSA & Co-Living at Savills, described the scheme as one of London’s few prime co-living opportunities to have secured Gateway 2 consent, positioning it for delivery in a constrained market.
