Could co-housing scheme be template for future homes?

Monica King has been working on the project for 17 years

As the government continues to pursue ambitious housebuilding targets, could a recently finished development in Dorset be a template for sustainable housing elsewhere in the UK?

The 53-home Hazelmead scheme in Bridport - next to the hospital - is the biggest co-housing scheme in the UK.

Remarkably, It has taken locals 17 years from inception to completion.

But now it is fully occupied, it is receiving an impressive list of accolades - the latest being the overall Housing Design Award on Thursday.

Cohousing is a form of community-led housing where residents co-design, build and manage their own neighbourhoods.

Monica King, who has been working on the scheme for 17 years, said: "We were going to build 30 homes, which is the recommended co-housing number.

"We bought this seven-acre plot, anticipating we would do it in two phases, and that maybe somebody else would do the second phase, but before long we started to get cold feet.

"[We thought] what if somebody sneaks in under the wire? Then we thought somebody might build an ordinary development, so we decided to go for the whole thing."

Co-housing originated in Denmark, homes are modestly sized and close together, accidental socialising is encouraged.

Judith Griffies said there was a limit on the number of over 60s living at Hazelmead

There are also shared facilities - at Hazelmead, a common house, which is still under construction, will provide residents with a communal extension to the 53 homes.

Judith Griffies said she moved to Hazelmead because her previous home was too big.

"It was not a place to grow old," she said. "I have no regrets."

"Having children around is a bonus. Only 40% of the households can have a person over 60."

As well as Thursday's triumph at the Housing Design Awards, Hazelmead has won accolades from the Royal Institute for British Architecture and the Design Council.

Lin Scrannage said the project attracted a lot of visitors wanting to learn how it was done

Architect Sam Goss, who quit his job when he was offered the project 11 years ago, said: "I think what Hazelmead is representing is almost a new paradigm where it demonstrates how, when a group of passionate people come together to do something differently within housing, they achieve it.

"It's showing people do want to care about each other, they do crave community, social interaction.

"It is possible to achieve better environmental standards when the people themselves who are living in homes design them so they are more aspirational."

Resident Lin Scrannage said: "Were getting lots of visitors. We had a group of councillors from different councils in Cornwall last week, with a Dorset councillor to show them what we've done.

"We are hoping the word gets out that it is doable.

"You need half a dozen people with real passion to get it done and you can work miracles."