Are co-housing developments the answer for sustainable living?

• The social affordable co-housing development, Hazelmead in Bridport, Dorset which has been adopted from schemes that exist in some of the Scandinavian countries might the one of the answers to the housing and social care woes in the United Kingdom (UK).
• Firstly, this housing development won the accolade by the Design Council as the overall Housing Design Award for housing developments in the UK.
• Residents live together in a co-housing arrangement in shared spaces that encourages or even forces more interaction.
• The core of the development is initially created by the architect but how it expands and grows is led by the residents, so no ‘nimbyism’ or objections is encountered once facilities and amenities are designed and agreed.
• Sustainability has been fully integrated into all aspects of the design and despite this, it is less expensive than a normal development and less to operate. In the UK, the average cost of a house is £3k per sq. ft while the Hazelmead development cost is approximately £2.67k per sq. ft.
• The integration of social and physical elements of the development has been incorporated into the ordinance that governs the development. Initially, this drives how residents interact, but this organically evolves once people get to know one another and their lives become intertwined which engenders a sense of belonging and well-being.
• In Hazelmead, a real sense of community has been engendered where residents help and look after one another. The old and the young families intermingle and learn from one another. Although it does not resolve it, this housing arrangement model goes a long way in helping the social care issues in caring for the elderly in the UK
• Officials from many councils have visited the Hazelmead development to determine what makes the housing arrangement so special to try and replicate it in their councils. This housing development can be a model for housing to be replicated across the UK as the government tries to facilitate the creation of more affordable housing throughout the UK.

Please see the links below to read and learn about this innovative eco-development: