Springhill Co-Housing

Springhill Co-housing is the first new build co-housing scheme in the UK. Based on the Danish model, co-housing is a form of collaborative housing that aims to create a real sense of community and achieve true social and environmental sustainability.

Like all co-housing communities, Springhill Community was intentionally formed. The scheme has been planned, owned and managed by the residents who share activities like cooking, eating together, childcare, gardening and administration.

Location

Stroud, UK

Area

Status

Completed

Year

2004

Client

Cohousing Company Ltd.

Springhill was the first in a programme of developments by the Cohousing Company Ltd, a housing developer with a progressive approach to design, the environment and new ways of living.

The residents of Springhill became equal directors of the company undertaking the development, and remain as directors of the company owning the freehold of the site. They each individually own the leasehold of their house or flat.

The project effectively falls outside the standard ways of housing provision in the UK being developed by neither a social landlord nor a private developer. It brings control of housing back to the residents, enabling them to develop and shape their own destiny, at the same time as building vibrant, strong, sustainable communities.

The scheme of 35 private houses and flats was designed with the full participation of the residents, and has achieved a sense of community not common in UK housing.

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David Michael, Resident

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Vision

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Collaborating With Communities

Collaboration

What are the fundamentals of successful collaborative design?

Ownership

The residents of Springhill became equal directors of the company undertaking the development, and remain as directors of the company owning the freehold of the site. They each individually own the leasehold of their house or flat.

Shared living

The project has developed a new housing typology, based on the principles of co-housing. The landscape strategy is pedestrian and child friendly, with cars kept to one edge and outdoor space that is shared and communal, with no private gardens.

First purpose built co-housing in UK

This is the first new build co-housing scheme in the UK and was designed with the full participation of the residents achieving a sense of community that is absent from much UK housing.

Design

The project has developed a new housing typology, based on the principles of co-housing. This includes a whole site that is pedestrian and child friendly, with cars kept to one edge and an outdoor space that is shared and communal, with no private gardens. A shared common house is at the heart of the scheme, where meals are cooked and shared three evenings each week, together with other facilities including workshops and a playroom. Springhill also includes a car share scheme and bulk buying of organic food.

Expertise

Learning from Post Occupancy Evaluation

The most significant outcome established that there was a remarkable sense of environmental and resident satisfaction, which can be attributed to the residents being part of the design and delivery of their own homes and having ownership over their design and construction. Their awareness of the buildings' strengths and weaknesses meant they were more forgiving of shortcomings and acted more responsibly and sympathetically in operating their homes.