751698Common RoomsClosedVouchersInnovate UKMany of our cities centres have empty shops and offices, and are not the thriving hubs they could be. Many also have a critical shortage of housing. Despite the government making it easier to convert offices to housing in planning terms, there has been a limited take up of this in Sheffield. The Common Rooms project will explore a ‘meanwhile use’ of an empty office building, testing financial, spatial and environmental strategies for a more shared model of city centre living. A focus on low-impact, low-energy sustainable fit-out solutions will drive the project, as will testing ways in which increasing housing provision, and the types of housing could benefit the life of the city. The findings and experiences of the project will be made available to inform the council, housing associations, cohousing groups and other parties.