Could co-housing scheme be template for future homes?

Monica King poses for the camera inside her home. She has grey hair in a short bob, dark blue rimmed glasses and a bright cerise jumper. She's sitting next to a window where you can see other houses in the development.
Image caption,

Monica King has been working on the project for 17 years

  • Published

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.

Media caption,

BBC Sounds: The seven-acre project was originally meant to be built in two phases

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.

A smiling Judith Griffies in her back garden at Hazelmead. The small garden is richly planted and full of flowers. She has mid-length white curly hair and is wearing black rimmed glasses and an open-collar light blue shirt.
Image caption,

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

There area 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.

A smiling Lin scrannage standing in the meadow behind the co-housing project which is in the distance. She has short grey hair and is wearing a violet vest top with a navy jumper over the top.
Image caption,

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."

Get in touch

Do you have a story BBC Dorset should cover?

Related topics