Co-housing, an idea that first started in Scandinavia, is catching on in the UK. Former Green Councillor Jonathan Sear, winner of The Observer Ethical Award for the eco-refit of his council house, is now spear-heading the latest Co-housing scheme in Lancaster.

Twenty-four households have signed up to buy a smaller than average home, together with a share in a big common house’ and creative outdoor space. The scheme combines the social advantages of Co-housing with a groundbreaking eco-design in an urban location, where the need to drive is also minimised.
Provided the group’s land purchase is successful, it will be the third Co-housing project in the UK. ‘It’s an ideal way of recreating community and building many more sustainable homes than speculative developers would consider. It’s a lot of hard work for the founder members and securing land is also a big hurdle,’ says Jonathan, who has learnt a great deal from the eco-refit.

Apart from the solar thermal panels, the renovated house looks much like his neighbour’s properties. The average renovation usually involves a big skip and cheap-but-new’ everything. However, the eco-approach is to redecorate and repair the existing structure, using re-cycled or natural products when new materials are required.

‘If labour costs were lower and re-sources more expensive, eco-renovation would make financial sense as well as environmental sense,’ says Jonathan.

Contact: 14 Kenilworth Place,
Lancaster, LA1 4HE
Email: info@​lancastercohousing.​org.​uk
Website: www​.cohousing​.org​.uk
and www​.lancastercohousing​.org​.uk