A major new residential development is planned for Custom House Street in Cardiff, led by the Watkin Jones Group. The project will transform a long-unused brownfield site into a 33-storey co-living building with around 400 fully furnished studio apartments.
Located at the junction of Custom House Street and Bute Street, the site is just 300 metres from Cardiff Central railway station and the new bus interchange. Its central location provides easy access to shops, restaurants, and other city-centre amenities.
The development will introduce Cardiff to the co-living model, which offers private studio apartments alongside shared facilities. Each studio will include a bed, wardrobe, desk, kitchenette, and en-suite bathroom. Communal spaces will include kitchens, lounges, co-working areas, a gym, a library, games rooms, and outdoor areas. The aim is to create a flexible living environment that particularly suits recent graduates and young professionals.
Watkin Jones has been involved in residential developments since 1791 and has delivered more than 60,000 homes across the UK. The company has experience in Cardiff, having developed the award-winning Bridge Street Exchange student accommodation and the ongoing Central Quay rental project.
A public webinar discussing the plans was held in January, and the statutory Pre-Application Consultation period started in February, allowing residents to give feedback before a formal planning application is submitted in the spring. If approved, the development will bring new life to a long-neglected site and provide much-needed housing in the city centre. More information is available on the project website.
