Our Future
We want to create a community of cooperatively owned homes that are well maintained, sustainable, accessible, and affordable, with a community that has facilities that support modern day living, in the Black Country.
Interested in learning more about our project? Click below to find out more about our volunteering opportunities or how to apply to become a member.
We are currently looking for a site. We want to buy land to build a number of affordable, co-operatively owned homes (ideally between 15-25). At least 20% of these homes will be wheelchair accessible (to M4:3 standard) and will be a mixture of 1-3 bedroom accommodation – to suit both individuals and families. Depending on the site, the affordability of design etc, these could be flats, houses, bungalows or a combination. There will also be shared spaces for everyone to use. We aim to provide affordable housing for those who often struggle to find secure housing that meets their long term needs – this would include, but not be solely limited to those who would be accepted onto the local housing list who also meet our criteria. We will be seeking to become a registered provider of social housing.
Additionally, we plan to have spaces that will serve both our community and the larger local area, such as affordable co-working space, studios for artists and craftspeople, community kitchen, resource centre for Disabled people, and a café that is welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community.
We are exclusively looking at brownfield sites to reduce our environmental impact and help further the area’s regeneration. We are looking to make our housing co-op an example of best practices of sustainability and accessibility. We would like to ensure the houses are high-quality, sustainably built or retro-fitted and easy to maintain. The project will be initially funded through small grants and donations, but once we are in a viable position to do so we will look to apply for a commercial mortgage from an ethical lender, alongside government backing for affordable homes and larger charitable funds aimed at accessible homes and community led housing. Any loans will be paid back via rents collected from members once homes are built.
Whilst we are a fully mutual housing cooperative, we chose the name Black Country Cohousing because we want our homes to be built in a way that naturally bring people together. Cohousing architectural design is all about creating opportunities for people to come together within a built environment. This often involves homes built close to each other, usually around shared gardens or courtyards. Cars are parked away from the living areas to make things safer, peaceful and more enjoyable for everyone. Cohousing also involves many more sustainable ways of living, thus eco-friendly building materials and energy-saving techniques for heating and lighting are employed in the buildings as well as the outdoor spaces. It also mixes private homes with shared areas where people can hang out, like gardens and sometimes a common house with a kitchen and dining room. The goal is to create a friendly neighborhood where everyone feels included, supported, and less isolated with shared values guiding every part of our design.
This isn’t a new idea either – cohousing projects have been commonplace in Denmark since the 1960s! You can find out more about the history of Cohousing here.