Co-Housing Bristol (Co-HB) are a group of local people who are working together to build a sustainable community of eco-homes in Bristol. Co-HB was registered as a co-operative (Company Ltd by Guarantee) in 2001.

Aims: to build an intentional neighbourhood designed to be socially, environmentally and financially sustainable. The development will be established within a 5-mile radius of Bristol city-centre, offering mixed tenure to house all our members: owner-occupancy, shared equity and rented accommodation.

Progress: the group has developed several business plans, and made bids
for several sites, for example:

• The Orchard, an irregular "back land" site of approximately 1.42 hectares at the southern end of Lockleaze with a mixed use housing/open space designation in the adopted Bristol Local Plan. Co-HB proposed a development of up to 30 homes on approximately 0.6ha with the remaining 0.8ha being retained as woodland, wildlife area. After CoHB submitted its bid, Bristol City Council decided to ear-mark this land for future use in its housing strategy.
• Vetchlea was a proposal for a development of 36 dwellings comprising a range of dwelling types, taking the form of a green open space/square with housing on its east, north and west sides. We proposed to maintain an open boundary to the south of the site adjacent to the existing children's play area. Form, scale, massing and density of the development reflected the local context. We made a conditional bid to the City Council, but were outbid by Sovereign Homes, who were successful in their unconditional bid.
  We understand this site has now been reclaimed by the City Council for housing for the elderly.
• Co-HB have recently made a bid for a piece of land behind the old Chocolate factory in Greenbank. This site has now been bought by Square Peg, who are developing the Chocolate factory, to include in its development.

Co-HB members have also attended educational workshops on topics such as housing and site layout design, environmental properties of various building materials and conflict resolution.

Membership:

• Currently 9 members
• 2 members in process of joining
• 7 potential members
• The membership application process takes at least 3 months, as prospective members need to attend 3 GMs before they can apply. This is because we want to get to know people before admitting them to membership

Communications:

• Website has recently been updated.
• Bookmarks
• Yahoo Group (emails, files - minutes, policies, information for new members - & online polls)
• Meetings
  GM = monthly 3rd Sunday, main decision-making body Operations meetings weekly

Partners and Advisers:

• Under the Sky
• Avon CDA

www.cohousingbristol.org.uk