2 families have signed up to take part in a pioneering co-housing development, the first to be built in the UK. Building is due to start in January on two acres of land in Stroud, Gloucestershire.

When fin-ished, there will be 36 homes, a mixture of flats, studios and houses, each with their own front door and a large communal house for eating, meeting and parties.

David Michael, the brains behind the scheme says, ‘I think co-housing is the best thing that’s happened since we moved out of caves. It’s a very simple way to live. It offers the possibility of being as private or as communal as we like, so we get the best of both worlds. The site is safe, child-friendly and adult-friendly. Cars are all parked on the periphery and we will eat together with our friends in the communal house dining room when and if we want. Meals will be available every evening. The only commitment is that you have to take your turn on the cooking rota. There’s also a communal garden as well as individual gardens so there’ll also be communal gardening, commun– al cleaning and odd jobs to be done.’

The co-housing concept took off in Denmark in the 1970’s where 5 per cent of the population now live in co-housing communities. It seems the Danes like the companionship and safety of living in community at the same time as having their privacy. There are around 30 co-housing communities in the US, but Stroud will be the first new-build co-housing community in Britain.

Community families have each paid £5,000 for a shareholding in the Stroud co-housing company which entitles them to a plot. The housing which is self-build, will be timber frame construction, super-insulated with decking and balconies. As each family has a say in the design, every building will be different. When complete, the development will be the largest housing estate in the county with solar thermal hot water systems and photovoltaic roof tiles providing electricity. They should generate enough power to sell the surplus to the National Grid!
FURTHER INFORMATION : David Michael, 4 Carlton Gardens, Stroud, GL5 2AH, tel: 01453 766466
WEB SITE : http://​www​.cohouses​.net EMAIL: info@​cohouses.​net