Whitbread, Olympian Homes to transform Premier Inn hotel into student, co-living spaces

Whitbread, along with its development partner Olympian Homes, could transform the Premier Inn hotel at St James Barton roundabout in the city center of Bristol, England, into two new high-quality student and co-living homes.

The 20-story building was originally designed as an office when it was built by Avon County Council in 1972. Whitbread said it is at the end of its life, and if plans are approved, would be replaced by a 28-story, student-accommodation building with 445 student beds and an 18-story co-living building with 136 beds.  The proposals will include a new ground-floor café, which would open onto both the bus/coach station and the roundabout.

“The Premier Inn at Haymarket is at the end of its life,” said Richard Pearson, development manager for Whitbread. “Though the location is great, the current building does not provide the high brand standards our customers expect of us, and it needs substantial investment. Redeveloping the site presents an opp