A pioneering cohousing community is celebrating a ‘momentous milestone’ in its journey of creating 53 new affordable eco homes for local people.
Builders CG Fry have now released the first four houses in the Bridport Cohousing project in North Allington – and members are starting to move in.
The first project of its kind in west Dorset and inspired by a scheme in the north of the county, Hazelmead has been 12 years in the making.
The idea of a cohousing neighbourhood is to give each household its own self-contained private home as well as a shared community space, as a way to counter feelings of isolation and recreating the neighbourly support of past years.
The lucky four households are all local people and are moving into their new homes.
The remaining six terraces and two apartment blocks are being released to local people following a rolling programme of completion between now and next spring.
The cohousing neighbourhood will add 53 affordable homes to Bridport’s housing stock.
“These are no ordinary homes,” said Lin Scrannage of Bridport Cohousing. “They have been designed by Dorset architect Sam Goss of Barefoot Architects. They are spacious and light and are ultra energy efficient, which will cut residents’ heating bills dramatically.”
Among those moving in is Lucy, a district nurse, (above) who said: “Neil, Megan and I are extremely excited and happy to be finally moving into our new home and community, every inch of which is perfectly designed to help us adapt and grow facing the modern challenges of climate change and food security concerns.”
Bridport Cohousing teamed up with Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (BCHA), which has accessed grants from Homes England and made significant financial investment to provide homes for rent and low-cost shared ownership – available through the Government’s Help To Buy scheme.
BCHA is delivering 39 homes, of which 26 will be for social rent and 13 for shared ownership, starting with a 25 per cent share. Bridport Cohousing is delivering 14 homes for shared equity with an 80 per cent share. They will be working together to enable residents to manage the neighbourhood, including the extensive landscaping and food growing areas.
Colin Salisman of BCHA said: “It is great to see this community-led project come to fruition and start housing local people. It will be a fantastic place to live and a great opportunity for people to get on the housing ladder, with the purchase of one of our one-bed flats starting at £43,750 for a 25 per cent share.’’
One member who has moved into her new home this month said: “The people I have come to know, whilst all different, share in common kindness. Everybody who has been involved in the success of this project has done so for more than just themselves. We have all worked hard as volunteers, doing what we can, if and when we are able, supporting each other along the way, and now the ideas are literally being built up from the ground, proving the amazing strength and ability we have, when we come together in community.’’
Bridport Cohousing would like to thank its many supporters and well-wishers, including Dorset Council, the wider community of Bridport and those who loaned the group money to buy the land.
* Many of the properties have already been allocated to local people but there are still two low-cost shared ownership one-bedroom, two-person flats available for sale and houses to rent though BCHA. Details at https://bridportcohousing.org.uk/available-properties-at-hazelmead-may-2022/
Aerial view of the development showing solar arrays on rooftops
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