UKCN’s CEO Explores Yorkshire’s Cohousing Gems
Last week we had the privilege of visiting members across York, Leeds and Sheffield – hearing first-hand how cohousing communities are thriving, innovating and welcoming new residents. Here are some highlights from the road:
Lowfield Green, York – preparing to open!
James Neward and Sophia Cheng gave us a tour of their almost-finished site – a pioneering mix of community land trust, co-operative and cohousing models. Despite rising costs, COVID disruptions and even a switch from MHOS to co-op status, the group is on the brink of moving in. A trailblazing example for future projects.
Five Rivers, Sheffield – settling in nicely!
The community are busy settling in and creating bonds their neighbours. The view from their wonderful sunlit common house is absolutely stunning, and will mature nicely with a planned orchard and growing areas. Keen growers, there is a list of eager candidates to be head gardener. The guest room is very comfortable aswell! Thank you to Trish, Rachel and Chris in particular for hosting.
Photo – Rachel Hope shows off the growing spaces and opens up the common house to this stunning morning view
Shirle Hill, Sheffield, a new generation moves in
It was a delight to meet some of the Shirle Hill community for the first time and have a tour of their renovated mansion and purpose built properties. Carolyn and Derek provided a generous welome and tour. Shirle Hill embodies the dream of old friends joining forces to live together. Old mates from the Socialist Choir bought and converted a stunning mansion before adding new homes alongside it – in the heart of Netheredge, Sheffield. The latest family to join signed up after seeing an advertisement on a blackboard outside. A sign that a new generatiion is seeking to join.
Photo: A wonderful walk around the stunning Shirle Hill.
On The Brink, Sheffield, continuing to change and grow
Just up the road, On The Brink represents a similar story. Old friends turned community housing entrepreneurs, renovated a former NHS office and then added new homes for good measure to extend the community. It was great to see Kate and Tom again in person, with a delicious helping of home made and grown plum jam on toast. Complete with a cosey large common room, growing spaces and even badger sets in the garden, OTB is a success story, working out how to enable the next generations to join.
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Pictures: Being given a tour by the wonderful Tom Heller, Kate Housden, Bonny and the Chickens.
Chapeltown Cohousing, Leeds, three years on.
Bill and Ali welcomed us with warmth (and food!) while sharing CHACO’s journey – from kitchen table planning to a thriving community. Their decades of activism and commitment to social change shine through. (Fun fact: they once cycled a rickshaw to the G8 in Genoa!) Three years on, CHACO is going strong.
Photo – the rainbow doors of Chapel Town Cohousing – faces onto a busy road – the other side is a cohousing haven.
LILAC, Leeds, renovations and new arrivals
LILAC sets itself up as a genuine alternative to mainstream housing on all fronts – as a cohousing design, a co-operative governance, as being strongly ecologically driven and of course by having equity in affordable monthly payments for its residents. The tour of the site was popular with attendees of the Northern Way conference nearby. Many people leave LILAC seeking to replicate it. The work of UKCN and CLTN has been to seek routes to do this by increasing access to land, finance and expertise. Big thanks to Paul Chatterton and Liz Lewis for hosting – it was wonderful to see you both!
