Development Report

Somewhat belatedly, here is the ASH Co-op Development Report “The case for new co-operative housing in Cambridge” (pdf, 1.5MB). From the executive summary:

The report sets out the case for a new cutting-edge low-carbon, community controlled housing development in Cambridge.Cambridge needs 734 new social homes per year, in addition to other affordable housing. Including some co-operative housing in this figure would help meet many local, regional and national housing objectives. Developing co-operative housing offers the following benefits (Chapter 1):

•     Zero-carbon, sustainable building
•     Active citizens in sustainable, mixed developments
•     Training and capacity building
•     Tenant participation and control
•     Lifetime homes in a supportive environment
•     Cost effectiveness

The experience of the Argyle Street Housing (ASH) Co-operative in Cambridge bears witness to the advantages of co-operative housing. ASH is a Registered Social Landlord which has been successfully providing co-op housing in Cambridge for over 25 years, and is ideally placed to help build more. A new co-op would be able to share effort and expertise with ASH, complementing the advantages of a compact community with the efficiency of a wider pool of shared resources.

ASH Co-op has good relations with other, larger RSLs. In particular we have an understanding with BCHS, part of the Accord group, who we expect would act as our development agents. Accord is an approved development partner of the Housing Corporation with an exceptional track record of sustainable development of affordable housing, including co-operatives, delivered on time and to budget. We also have support from a larger local RSL, Cambridge Housing Society. ASH Co-op is seeking support for a new development in Cambridge, including (Chapter 3):

•     showcase sustainable building
•     community involvement in the design of the scheme
•     a new self-governing co-operative on a single site
•     communal areas and workspace
•     a mixture of family housing, smaller flats and shared housing
•     accommodation available to those in most need

Such a scheme would of course have to include plenty of rented accommodation, and we are open to the possibility of a mixture of other tenures. We are confident that the planned new development will demonstrate that co-operative housing is one of the best ways of providing sustainable housing where people want, and can afford, to live.