The conference will provide a forum for researchers, housing companies, politicians and activists to meet and discuss experiences of different models of collaborative living. The conference is intended to give an overview of current international praxis and knowledge and to strengthen existing international cooperation.

The last 20 years have seen a growing interest in cohousing and other alternative forms of living in Sweden as well as internationally. The search for a sense of community remains an important driving force behind demands for cohousing. During the last ten years new aspects have been added, such as housing for the “second half of life” and planning for more sustainable lifestyles.

Collaborative housing networks in a number of countries have taken an inte-rest in the Swedish cohousing model, which is characterized by a strong involve-ment by municipal housing companies and by political initiatives combined with efforts from independent non-government organizations. The fact that these com-panies offer rental housing means that cohousing is accessible also to single parents and retired people with limited incomes.

Against this background, the association Kollektivhus NU and the Division of Urban and Regional Studies of The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) invite interested persons and organisations to an international conference on col-laborative housing, to take place in Stockholm 5-9 May 2010.

Venue & language

The conference will take place at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm. The conference language will be English (except for two work-shops, which will be carried out in Swedish).

Registration, conference fee

The conference fee is Eur 200 when registering before 1 March 2010. After that date the fee will be Eur 275. The conference fee includes access to keynote lectures and workshops, snacks in coffee breaks, lunches and a conference package. After the conference, additional study visits to cohousing units in West and South Sweden will be offered to interested participants. The dinner Saturday night and the study tours are to be paid separately. Find a registration form at http://www.kollektivhus.nu/eng/index.html. Recommendations for accommodation will be sent out upon registration.

Documentation

The conference will be documented in a report to be disseminated electronically. It will consist of keynote lectures and conclusions from workshops.

Address:

International Collaborative Housing Conference 2010, Div. of Urban & Regional Studies, the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), SE-10044 Stockholm, Sweden. Email: koll...@gmail.com (click 3 blue dots to get full email), telephone +46 706559483, or fera...@infra.kth.se, telephone +46 8 7908988

See attached leaflet below for full details of programme and speakers.

Our vision is of a caring society in which people cooperate with each other and with nature to create a sustainable world, recognising that all are interconnected.

Prospect intends to establish a thriving co-housing eco community based on permaculture principles as an example of truly sustainable rural development.
* Our community will be one of vitality, beauty and abundance.
* Our land will be cared for to enhance biodiversity as well as lead to increased and sustainable yields.

by Dr Graham Meltzer

Click here to view. (Right click and Save as to download it.)

Do someting great this year, join Greener Together – the co-operative way and let's demonstrate how together we can make a significant impact on climate change. Working with your members and residents to change their individual habits in energy, personal transport and waste.

We want to hear from housing organisations big and small – co-operative, TMO or co-housing – that could work with their members to change their individual habits. Many co-operatives are already doing great things to get their members to live in a more sustainable way. Why not take one more step with us and help your members demonstrate just what a significant impact they can make?

Defra has recognised the strength of our collective approach and is sponsoring the Greener Together programme as part of its Greener Living Fund. Be part of a change and tackle the climate threat.

We are looking for ten organisations that are committed to finding a voluntary eco-operator who will lead the project in their co-operative.

Join with other housing organisations across England and show how co-operation can collectively really make a difference.

For details of how to apply visit the Greener Together website.

How it works

Greener Together will provide you with all the support you need to get started:

• information and promotional materials
• dedicated website and forum
• financial support (up to £2000 per co-operative)
• access to a dedicated support officer

Working together we can make a difference.

To find out how you can join Greener Together and make a real difference -

• contact Phil Beardmore at CCH on 07779 260768
• email bla...@cch.coop ( click on 3 blue dots for full email) or
• go to our website.

It’s a busy and exciting time for us...

The whole group are working with our architects (Ecoarc) to design our eco cohousing project. We have finalised our home plans and are close to finalising the site plan which includes a cohouse, 28-31 homes, a pedestrian walkway and lots of green space!

We are still welcoming new members (there are 7-10 homes left depending on the final number). We will be accepting the next group of new members in March; the deadline for these applications is 28 February.

Managed Workspace

We are actively encouraging households to join the project who are interested in making use of the managed workspace on site (offices, studios, workshops). We are also interested to hear from anyone outside the cohousing project who might be interested in this space so please spread the word. The contact for this is halt...@lancastercohousing.org.uk. (Click on 3 blue dots to get the full email.)

Events

If you would like to meet us or find out more please come to one of our events -

• 4th Sunday each month: Brunch
• 11am , Whale Tail Café, Lancaster
• Sunday Feb 7th Lunch / Integration afternoon
• 1pm Gregson, Lancaster. Lunch (all welcome)
• 2pm Gregson, Integration afternoon (Prospective members only)
• Saturday Feb 13th Meal / drinks
• 6pm Gregson – meet in the bar
• Wednesday Feb 17th Planning Application Preview
• 6.30-8pm Halton Youth and Community Centre

There’s lots more information on our website.

Cheers, Kathy (kat...@lancastercohousing.org.uk - click on 3 blue dots to get full email.)

The Prospect new members meeting which took place on 12 December was successful in that we had 16 adults plus 3 young children at the meeting including 12 potential new members. This was about the right number, as anymore would have been too chaotic. The meeting was held at the Beech Hill Community near Morchard Bishop. This was ideal in that we had a large room with a comfortable lived-in ambience and a good kitchen where we could prepare meals and bond by sharing the washing up.

Creating cohousing

Workshops led by members of the Threshold Centre, 2010

• 19-21 February
• 23-25 April
• 11-13 June
• 10-12 September
• 12-14 November

Download Word version of this document

Cohousing is:

• The combination of self-contained dwelling units with shared facilities
• A brilliant way to enjoy both individual privacy and the benefits of community
• A lifestyle which can be more affordable and more ecological
• How 5% of all Danish households live
• Rapidly gaining interest in the UK

The Threshold Centre is one of the few cohousing projects up and running in the UK, and the first to gain planning permission for a full mixed-tenure scheme with a housing association. We have been at Cole Street Farm since 2004. Here we aim both to embody and teach sustainable living, including aspects such as food, travel, home energy and community. We can share not only our own experience with you but also what we have learnt from the many other cohousing groups we are in touch with. In this weekend you can experience life in a cohousing community, and learn how to create a cohousing project.

The content will be tailored to the needs of participants. Whether you are just starting your exploration, or in the perplexing thick of it, and whether you're an interested individual or already part of a group, we aim to help you with your questions. The weekend is led by core group members of the Threshold Centre, with many years' experience of sustainable community living.

Practicalities

• Dates: as above
• Times: 7pm Friday to 4pm Sunday
• Cost: £130 for course, lunches and evening meals; £25/35 per night for accommodation at the Centre or local B&B. (Concessionary rate of £100 for course may be available. Please apply in writing)
• Transport: The Centre is easily reached by public transport, and we can collect you.

For bookings and enquiries contact Caroline at:

Email: i...@thresholdcentre.org.uk (click on 3 blue dots to get email...)
Tel: 01747 821929
Address: The Threshold Centre, Cole Street Farm, Cole Street Lane, Gillingham, Dorset sp8 5jq

A super green and super cheap eco-village is to be built in west Leeds.
Yorkshire Evening Post
16 November 2009 by aish...@ypn.co.uk (click on the three dots to the left of the @ for full email address)
Click here for the original article.

An as-yet-under-wraps corner of west Leeds has been chosen as the location for the city's first co-housing project.

The futuristic energy-saving commune will be almost completely self-sustaining – with houses built primarily from straw bales, virtually no artificial heating and recycled rainwater running through the taps.

We are having a meeting
Next Sunday 22 Nov, 1pm-4pm at the Masonic Hall, North Parade, Frome.

This will be the first meeting of a newly forming group to assess the level of interest and if there is sufficient interest (we expect there will be) to set up a group and plan how we can go forward.

For more information, contact:
Tim Cutting
t...@cutting-energy.co.uk (click on the three dots to the left of the @ for full email address)