DORSET COHOUSING COMMUNITY

Ecovillage Ithaca NY, USA

The Rural Renewal Company aims to create this project in collaboration with potential residents (see Getting Involved) and the Synergy Housing Group.

Whilst the scale and facilities would be tailored to the site and surrounding community, the typical target features would include:

20-50 units of housing: built to Ecohomes Excellent as a minimum, and aiming for zero emissions. Unit sizes would range from one-room studios to family houses.

A high level of social housing provision, both rental and shared ownership. Both Synergy and the Housing Corporation regard cohousing as a highly beneficial new form of social housing provision.

Community market garden: space on site or within an easy walk where both cohousing residents and others can grow food.

Guest accommodation would be provided for educational visitors, eco-tourism, and residents.

Workspaces: small office and studio spaces with support services where possible.

Community facilities: the project would provide a range of facilities and services for the whole of the host community: such as a car club, playgroup, special interest groups, and the community market garden.

Education programmes: these would range from short guided tours through weekend workshops to longer internships. The experience of other cohousing projects has shown there is high demand for such programmes.

A key aim of the project is to provide substantial social and economic benefits to the surrounding community also. The Threshold Centre, which is a small pilot cohousing scheme in North Dorset, has confirmed the benefits of cohousing and the local and national interest. The Threshold Centre has won an award for green tourism development, and has been welcomed and supported by local residents and organisations.

PROJECT STATUS

RRC is already evaluating several potential sites in Dorset, and has also established initial contact with several of the local authorities in the county. The company welcomes approaches from site owners, developer partners or local authorities interested in taking this forward. The aim is to identify a preferred site and initiate local consultation and design work during 2008.