History Co-Housing Bristol was launched at an open
meeting in June 2001. Subsequent meetings allowed the first members
to explore the lessons from existing communities, to develop their
vision of the project and identify the principles and aims of
Co-Housing Bristol. Since then, the group has grown and developed
as a community, recruiting new members, researching sites,
architecture and techniques. We have established dialogue with a
range of professionals and organisations, developing a network of
contacts and potential partners, and identifying many of the
problems and opportunities in building a sustainable community.
Structure Registered as a company limited by guarantee we
are a service co-operative with a flat organisation structure, all
members being directors of the company.
Our decision-making procedures are democratic and efficient.
Decisions are taken at monthly meetings open to full membership.
Weekly meetings, open to all members, undertake business but refer
decisions to the full monthly meetings. Sub groups for particular
purposes arise as appropriate, again referring decisions to the
monthly meetings
Group ProfileOur membership is diverse. There are currently eleven member households, consisting of 11 adults and 6 children, drawing from a range of trades and professions including teachers, planners, social economy workers, civil servants, a craftsman, a co-operative management consultant, a counsellor, a psychotherapist and retired people.
Prioritised Wants Visioning Day March 08
FIRST PRIORITY (essential)
- shared open space, trees (large)
- common house (large)
- workshop space
- bike space
- multi room for communal gathering
- shared utilities, washing machines
- shared kitchen, dining room, café
- 30 to 100 people
- own patios
- modest size houses
- communal activities (gardening)
- car sharing
- energy micro-generation
- re-use of water
- high spec building
- good neighbours – caring
- visitor’s space
- range of ages
- reflecting different needs of community – access – apartments (youth, older people)
- offer mixed tenure of housing
- explore other possibilities to enable us to house all members (eg rooms to let)
- shared play space indoor/outdoor
SECOND (desirable)
- garden plots
- shared veg garden and allotments, self sufficiency
- moveable walls
THIRD (if possible)
- natural pond swimming pool
- animals, menagerie, fresh eggs
A Partnership Approach A co-housing community in Bristol
should be delivered by a partnership of organisations. Co-Housing
Bristol have engaged in partnership discussions with:
Under The Sky (UTS)
UTS, founded by John Pontin of the JT Group and a group of
like-minded individuals with relevant business and professional
skills have formed a not-for-profit company to undertake and
support socially and environmentally sustainable urban renewal
projects. CoHB have been developing a working relationship with UTS
over the last 18 months. UTS have provided a great deal of guidance
and continue to support the project on the design process and
business/development planning and sourcing and securing
capital.
www.underthesky.org.uk
Sustainable communities start with sustainable partnerships.
Co-Housing Bristol welcomes the opportunity to develop partnerships
with different organisations in order to achieve its aspirations.
Co-Housing Bristol envisages the partnership to consist of a mix of
public, private and voluntary organisations that will include the
following: Co-Housing Bristol, other potential residents and users,
the City Council, an RSL and possibly the Housing Corporation and a
private sector developer.
The wider network of groups should include local sustainability
projects, local residents/tenants associations, the Environment
Agency, Water Company, Regional Development Agency, Cooperative
Development Agency, University of West England, as well as
professional partnerships in the areas of architecture,
construction, project management and finances.
We will establish links throughout the local council regarding the
many different aspects of the development of the site. We have also
had preliminary dialogue with an RSL who have expressed their
willingness to develop a partnership with Co-Housing Bristol, and
while this RSL may not be the final partner, their interest is
encouraging. We have already identified some options in the form
the partnership could take and are now ready to start a dialogue
with the local council and a housing association.
Co-Housing Bristol proposes to develop and manage a community of
about 25 households. It is vital for long-term sustainability to
develop a manageable size of community and decision-making
bodies with responsibility for all shared facilities, spaces and
activities.
We would seek to consult the wider community over questions of
resources, facilities and access alongside encouraging a wider
debate about, and engagement with sustainable communities.
More information
about:
Other Communities
Co-operatives
Environmental Sustainability
Social Sustainability
Affordable
Building Issues
