Charles Durrett and Kathryn McCamant, the award-winning California architects who pioneered cohousing in the USA and wrote the cohousing 'bible', will be guest speakers at a UK Cohousing Network Conference on Saturday April 24th in London.

We’re all in this together

Communes are back in fashion across the United Kingdom, but with a contemporary green twist. Let's meet the neighbours

Click here to view the article at TimesOnline.

Next in our successful series of social events for Friends (100 of them now!) is a visit to the nearest existing cohousing project to us.

Thundercliffe Grange Cohousing has been going for 30 years. There are 12 privately owned flats in this former mansion house. Whilst quite different from LILAC there are sure to be things to learn. Depending on the weather, we can afterwards go for a walk amongst the bluebells in Woolley Wood. More info at www.cohousing.org.uk/thundercliffe-grange

Watch this short news story about LILAC: https://northern-indymedia.org/videos/564

Would you be interested in living in an eco-development? We are a group of people planning to build a housing community within reach of Cardiff which will feature:

• Ecologically sustainable homes
• A mix of people of all ages living in a supportive and friendly environment
• A balance of private spaces for living, and communal spaces for shared activities
• A high degree of self-sufficiency in the production of food and energy
• Social and economic links with the local community

Would you like to find out more? Come along to one of our meetings or contact us using the details below:

Thursday 11th March

• 7pm-9pm
• Chapter Arts Centre
• Meeting Room 2

Sunday 14th March

• 11am-1pm
• Chapter Arts Centre
• Meeting Room 2

For more info, email us at: i...@CohousingCymru.org.uk (click on 3 blue dots to get full email.)

The conference will provide a forum for researchers, housing companies, politicians and activists to meet and discuss experiences of different models of collaborative living. The conference is intended to give an overview of current international praxis and knowledge and to strengthen existing international cooperation.

The last 20 years have seen a growing interest in cohousing and other alternative forms of living in Sweden as well as internationally. The search for a sense of community remains an important driving force behind demands for cohousing. During the last ten years new aspects have been added, such as housing for the “second half of life” and planning for more sustainable lifestyles.

Collaborative housing networks in a number of countries have taken an inte-rest in the Swedish cohousing model, which is characterized by a strong involve-ment by municipal housing companies and by political initiatives combined with efforts from independent non-government organizations. The fact that these com-panies offer rental housing means that cohousing is accessible also to single parents and retired people with limited incomes.

Against this background, the association Kollektivhus NU and the Division of Urban and Regional Studies of The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) invite interested persons and organisations to an international conference on col-laborative housing, to take place in Stockholm 5-9 May 2010.

Venue & language

The conference will take place at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm. The conference language will be English (except for two work-shops, which will be carried out in Swedish).

Registration, conference fee

The conference fee is Eur 200 when registering before 1 March 2010. After that date the fee will be Eur 275. The conference fee includes access to keynote lectures and workshops, snacks in coffee breaks, lunches and a conference package. After the conference, additional study visits to cohousing units in West and South Sweden will be offered to interested participants. The dinner Saturday night and the study tours are to be paid separately. Find a registration form at http://www.kollektivhus.nu/eng/index.html. Recommendations for accommodation will be sent out upon registration.

Documentation

The conference will be documented in a report to be disseminated electronically. It will consist of keynote lectures and conclusions from workshops.

Address:

International Collaborative Housing Conference 2010, Div. of Urban & Regional Studies, the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), SE-10044 Stockholm, Sweden. Email: koll...@gmail.com (click 3 blue dots to get full email), telephone +46 706559483, or fera...@infra.kth.se, telephone +46 8 7908988

See attached leaflet below for full details of programme and speakers.

Building Plans
As you will know by now, we were delighted to get our planning permission (finally!) at the end of our fourth year. So a big thank you to everyone who has supported us during this time, practically, emotionally and spiritually.

A new developing group, Eco Chateau has registered with UK Cohousing!

Based in a 17th century chateau in France, they are inviting people to create a self-sufficient community.

Click here for their group profile, or visit their website.

Do someting great this year, join Greener Together – the co-operative way and let's demonstrate how together we can make a significant impact on climate change. Working with your members and residents to change their individual habits in energy, personal transport and waste.

We want to hear from housing organisations big and small – co-operative, TMO or co-housing – that could work with their members to change their individual habits. Many co-operatives are already doing great things to get their members to live in a more sustainable way. Why not take one more step with us and help your members demonstrate just what a significant impact they can make?

Defra has recognised the strength of our collective approach and is sponsoring the Greener Together programme as part of its Greener Living Fund. Be part of a change and tackle the climate threat.

We are looking for ten organisations that are committed to finding a voluntary eco-operator who will lead the project in their co-operative.

Join with other housing organisations across England and show how co-operation can collectively really make a difference.

For details of how to apply visit the Greener Together website.

How it works

Greener Together will provide you with all the support you need to get started:

• information and promotional materials
• dedicated website and forum
• financial support (up to £2000 per co-operative)
• access to a dedicated support officer

Working together we can make a difference.

To find out how you can join Greener Together and make a real difference -

• contact Phil Beardmore at CCH on 07779 260768
• email bla...@cch.coop ( click on 3 blue dots for full email) or
• go to our website.

It’s a busy and exciting time for us...

The whole group are working with our architects (Ecoarc) to design our eco cohousing project. We have finalised our home plans and are close to finalising the site plan which includes a cohouse, 28-31 homes, a pedestrian walkway and lots of green space!

We are still welcoming new members (there are 7-10 homes left depending on the final number). We will be accepting the next group of new members in March; the deadline for these applications is 28 February.

Managed Workspace

We are actively encouraging households to join the project who are interested in making use of the managed workspace on site (offices, studios, workshops). We are also interested to hear from anyone outside the cohousing project who might be interested in this space so please spread the word. The contact for this is halt...@lancastercohousing.org.uk. (Click on 3 blue dots to get the full email.)

Events

If you would like to meet us or find out more please come to one of our events -

• 4th Sunday each month: Brunch
• 11am , Whale Tail Café, Lancaster
• Sunday Feb 7th Lunch / Integration afternoon
• 1pm Gregson, Lancaster. Lunch (all welcome)
• 2pm Gregson, Integration afternoon (Prospective members only)
• Saturday Feb 13th Meal / drinks
• 6pm Gregson – meet in the bar
• Wednesday Feb 17th Planning Application Preview
• 6.30-8pm Halton Youth and Community Centre

There’s lots more information on our website.

Cheers, Kathy (kat...@lancastercohousing.org.uk - click on 3 blue dots to get full email.)