Mark Thomson, Planning Director at Savills, and Rosie Ashton, Design Manager at Verv-life, join Concilio’s Siddo and Rochelle to discuss how co-living tackles the housing crisis and urban loneliness.
In the latest episode of Concilio’s Better Places podcast, Account Director Siddo Dwyer and Account Executive Rochelle Blakeman, sit down with Mark Thomson, Planning Director at Savills, and Rosie Ashton, Design Manager at Verv-life, to discuss the rise of co-living, what it is, who it’s for, and whether it can help tackle two of London’s biggest challenges: the housing crisis and urban loneliness.
Key points discussed:
- Co-living offers a professionally managed, community-focused alternative to HMOs, with private studios, all-inclusive bills, and flexible tenures.
- Thoughtful design and curated events help tackle urban loneliness, creating welcoming social spaces that genuinely encourage connection.
- New regulations have driven better-zoned, higher-quality studio layouts, while clustered amenities and strong local partnerships enhance resident experience.
- Co-living provides cost certainty and potential for discounted-market options for key workers, challenging misconceptions about quality and affordability.
- With clearer, more flexible policy, co-living could play a bigger role in London’s housing mix and help ease pressure on traditional rental supply.
For anyone interested in housing innovation, rental market reform, community-led placemaking, or how London can diversify supply in the face of mounting pressures, this episode offers insight into the new opportunities shaping the next generation of urban living.
