Watkin Jones secures approval for 400-unit co-living tower in Cardiff
City centre scheme will transform a long-vacant site and add a new co-living development close to Cardiff Central Station.
10 June 2026
Watkin Jones has secured a resolution to grant planning permission for a 400-unit co-living development on Custom House Street in Cardiff city centre.
The scheme will redevelop a prominent vacant site close to Cardiff Central Station and St David’s Shopping Centre, delivering a landmark residential tower alongside new public-facing uses and shared amenities.
The development will comprise 400 fully furnished co-living studios supported by a range of communal facilities, including shared kitchens and dining areas, lounges, fitness space and landscaped communal areas.
Publicly accessible co-working facilities at ground floor level are also included within the plans, helping to activate the street frontage and contribute to the wider city centre environment.
The project forms part of the continued growth of the operational living sector, with co-living increasingly being used to meet demand from younger renters seeking professionally managed accommodation in central urban locations.
According to Watkin Jones, Cardiff continues to experience strong demand for rental housing, particularly among young professionals and smaller households, while the supply of suitable city centre accommodation remains constrained.
The development is intended to help address this demand while supporting the city’s role as a major business, education and employment centre.
Alongside the new homes, the scheme includes public realm improvements designed to enhance the surrounding area and support increased activity within the city centre.
The approval further strengthens Watkin Jones’ presence in Cardiff, following the recent practical completion of phase one of its Central Quay development, Tai Afon.
Subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement, formal planning permission is expected later this summer.
Iain Smith, planning director at Watkin Jones, said: “Bringing this co-living scheme forward marks an important step for a prominent site in the heart of Cardiff that has been vacant for a number of years.
“It reflects the strength of demand we continue to see for high-quality, professionally managed rental housing, and how our pipeline is evolving to meet changing living preferences.”
Once delivered, the scheme will add a significant new co-living offer to Cardiff city centre while contributing to the ongoing regeneration of a key gateway site within the Welsh capital.
