PLP Architecture has reworked its plans for a co-living tower for developer The Collective in Stratford, east London, submitting new designs for a hotel on the site instead.
The new scheme would see the demolition of the three existing buildings on the site, including the locally-listed West Ham Labour Party office, for a 22-story hotel with co-working space.
The Collective describes itself as creating a “global community of entrepreneurs and creative like-minded people” through its co-living schemes.
Its first UK project, the Old Oak Common in northwest London, is a “curated community” of 400 co-working spaces and 546 bedrooms and was also designed by PLP. Its second branch opened this summer in Canary Wharf, designed by SOM.
In planning documents sent to the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), The Collective said that since the Stratford Collective plans were first submitted, it had diversified its business model to include a short stay offer.
The practice had originally sought consent for a part 10-story, part 30-story building on the 0.64-hectare Stratford High Street plot, with 213 co-living units and 214 serviced apartments.
In 2017, these plans were revised and replaced with a part four-story, part 15-story block with 5,947 square meter of shared living workspace, approved by local planning authority the LLDC.
However, the scheme has yet to be rubber-stamped by the Greater London Authority, and the co-living developer has now changed tack, with new plans for a 287-room hotel.
A GLA Stage Two report for the original 2015 scheme revealed a number of hurdles needed to overcome before it met requirements of the London Plan. These included providing an affordable housing contribution and issues relating to inclusive design and transport.
For more on this story go to Architects’ Journal.