We are a community from diverse backgrounds in terms of age, ethnicity, religion, employment status, interests, outlooks and abilities.  We want  to create an intentional community and be part of the growing movement towards co-housing across the UK and abroad.  We have come together to develop a community which values our diversity, creates good neighbours, supports future generations and inspires the wider community in North London and surrounding areas .  We intend to build good quality, affordable, and sustainable housing which meets a variety of needs in terms of space, mixed financial structuring, and our shared values.

Vision: We would like to see a world where everyone could live in cohousing if they wished to.
Mission: To advance the role of cohousing projects in London and surrounding areas which are environmentally, financially and socially sustainable.
Aim: To facilitate the creation of an environmentally, financially and socially sustainable cohousing community or communities in Harrow or nearby.

We aim to build quality, affordable, and sustainable housing which will strengthen community-based living in Harrow. We also aim to develop a community which reflects our experiences of Harrow and London in terms of diversity of backgrounds. As such, our group cuts across generations, race, religion, different outlooks, interests and abilities.  

Our vision:

We would like to see a world where everyone could live in cohousing if they wished to.

Our principles:

  • We will build or renovate to passivhaus (or nearest possible) standard
  • We will minimise the environmental impact of our building or renovation works
  • We will design low energy homes to minimise running costs for members
  • We will share many of our resources, skills and ideas to lessen our environmental, financial and social footprint
  • We will ensure that 60% or more of our homes will be affordable in perpetuity
  • Our financial model will enable members in the intermediate market to build up equity at an affordable rate, linked to their household income
  • We will include a few homes at social rent level to enable membership of some people on very low incomes or on benefits
  • We will regularly share meals together and celebrate each other achievements, special festivals, birthdays and other events
  • We will self-manage all aspects of our community and everyone will be involved at some level in these management tasks. We will seek efficient ways of doing this to make it as easy and simple as we can.
  • We will use Sociocracy as our organisational model and decision making process
  • We will gladly look out for each other but not be expected to look after each other 
  • We will seek to balance our freedom to enjoy each other’s company without feeling obliged to do so.
  • Our community will reflect our experience of Harrow and London in terms of diversity of backgrounds. Our group will cut across generations, race, religion, different beliefs, interests and abilities.  
  • We will seek to allow access to some of our shared facilities by the local community
  • We will minimise disruption to our neighbouring community during the build or renovation process

Our shared values:

  • environmentally sustainable living spaces 
  • a regenerative and sharing culture 
  • affordability for current generations and the next ones 
  • strong sense of community, mutual respect and support
  • inclusivity, honesty and acceptance
  • interactivity with the wider community

Our aims and objectives:

We aim to create a beautiful, functional and environmentally sustainable development with a healthy mix of private and communal spaces: 

  • inviting shared areas and facilities
  • communal kitchen, dining and living spaces so that we can regularly share meals, where we can speak freely and exchange ideas 
  • a shared fruit and vegetable garden, bike and tools shed and safe play space for children 
  • communal visitors rooms, to minimize the need for private spare rooms 

Each household will have it’s own private dwelling, designed to free up space for communal areas. 

Our community includes some learning and physically disabled adults who are actively engaged and fully included in taking our cohousing project forward. We aim to be located near public transport, especially as this would be the only means of independent travel for those with disabilities or experiencing other challenges. .

Our cohousing community will develop a financial model that works for all. We recognise that several current members are not able to afford to finance home ownership from their own resources, and we would like to be able to provide affordable, secure homes for them and for all future members.