We recently consulted on draft Informal Planning Guidance for Large‑Scale Shared Living (Co‑living). This guidance sets expectations for design, standards and management of co‑living developments in Nottingham. Please note, the consultation ended on 17th April 2026. All comments submitted are now being assessed.
Nottingham is seeing increasing interest in proposals for large‑scale shared living, often referred to as co‑living. In response, the City Council has prepared Informal Planning Guidance that sets out clear expectations and minimum standards for this emerging form of development.
The guidance aims to provide developers with greater certainty and supports a positive, consistent approach to delivering high‑quality co‑living schemes. It outlines requirements around design quality, amenity, sustainability, management and developer contributions. While not carrying the statutory weight of policies within an adopted Local Plan or Supplementary Planning Document, it will be treated as a material consideration in planning decisions until a specific co-living policy is adopted in the revised Local Plan.
Co‑living is often described as a form of purpose‑built or converted residential accommodation typically comprising 50 or more bedspaces under single professional management, offering extensive communal amenities and aimed primarily at working young adults. Tenancies are generally for a minimum of three months.
The draft guidance includes:
- Purpose and status of the document, including its role as interim guidance and its relationship to existing Local Plan policies.
- Definition and characteristics of co‑living developments, including minimum expectations on size, management, and communal facilities.
- Appropriate locations, emphasising accessible, well‑connected areas that can support high‑density residential uses.
- Design standards, covering unit mix, aggregated amenity space, internal and external communal areas, accessibility, and management requirements.
- Conversions, including expectations for adapting existing Purpose‑Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) into co‑living.
- Planning obligations and viability, setting out likely Section 106 requirements (e.g. affordable housing, open space, employment and training contributions).
- Pre‑application discussions, encouraging applicants to seek early advice from the Development Management team.
A copy of the Draft Informal Planning Guidance can be viewed here Draft Informal Planning Guidance: Large‑Scale Shared Living (Co‑living) – Version March 2026
The Council will review all responses received and consider whether changes to the draft IPG are required. Please note that representations cannot be kept confidential and will be available for public scrutiny. However, representations that are available for public scrutiny will exclude your personal contact details. For more information about how we process your data please go to www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/localplan.
The Council will consider all the consultation responses before adopting the IPG. Once adopted, the IPG will be used to guide and determine any future planning applications. The final IPG will be made available on the Councils’ website along with a Report of Consultation.
Please contact the Planning Policy Team using the email address localplan@nottinghamcity.gov.uk if you have any queries or would like more information. If you would like to speak to an officer on the phone, please email with your phone number and we will contact you in the first instance.
Feedback submitted to us on this form is monitored but you won’t receive a reply. If you need a response please contact us.
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