Five lessons for creating successful cohousing neighbourhoods
At an event co-hosted by UK Cohousing Network (UKCN) and Barefoot Architects in Bristol, cohousing pioneer Charles Durrett joined a room of Southwest housing professionals and prospective residents to explore how to create “high functioning neighbourhoods” with community built in as standard.
A panel featuring Sam Goss (Barefoot Architects), Caroline Pringle (Ecomotive) and Judith Griffies (Bridport Cohousing) showed how intentional cohousing models help residents support one another at every stage of life.
Cohousing remains a rarity in the UK, accounting for less than 0.01% of housing built in the past decade, with land acquisition, financing and lengthy planning processes among the main barriers. Yet those who have succeeded report significant benefits for belonging, friendship, health and happiness.
In his new blog, Sam Goss shares five takeaways from the evening:
- Culture comes first: ask what culture you have, what you want, and how to get there
- Activism works: residents advocating together, in person and in numbers, are hard to ignore
- Connections count: Durrett’s ‘three cups of tea rule’ highlights the value of building trust over a cuppa
- 1+1=3: consensus-based decision making leads to more innovative, longer-lasting solutions
- Caring about, not for, each other: supportive communities can help older people and those with learning difficulties or cognitive decline stay well supported for longer, easing pressure on health and social care
Sam also notes that community-led housing is now referenced in the NPPF, and that UKCN is working with government to give cohousing a stronger position in the planning system.
Click through to read the full blog.