LiveNearLewes

An exciting collaborative housing project near Lewes, East Sussex

Vision

Creating our own community rather than leaving it to chance with an individual house purchase.

Getting the kinds of houses we really want rather than choosing from the existing housing stock.

Gaining shared space and facilities that we couldn't otherwise afford.

Taking part in a range of shared projects that wouldn't be viable if we tried them individually.

Minimising mortgages and bills whilst opening up new income opportunities.

Making sure the community experience works for everyone and the rewards far exceed the shared burdens.

A place where our kids get more fun and grow up able to shape their place in the world.

Showing by example how genuinely sustainable communities might be created on any street anywhere.

Suitable as an academic research site for advanced ecological living and as a demonstration site for advanced energy technologies.

Not our vision:
Collaborative housing is not communal living. Each housing and work unit will have its own front door and its own outside space.
We are not a campaign, fighting against anything. We are not a religious or political group. Our motivations are primarily practical.
This is not a self-sufficiency, drop-out or sandal-wearing anti-industrial project. We engage positively with the local area and wider world.

Design Ideas

6 to 10 residential units (unless a large site is available and then further communities of up to 10 units each could be considered). 2 to 3 work units including shared office space and shared presentation/meeting space. Shared kichen (with wood-firedpizzaoven) and entertainment space with guest accomodation (probably run as a guest house). Shared equipment shed.

Private and shared gardens, shared walled garden with bbq space, chicken coop. Possible land for cultivation of fuel crops. Tree planting to create or extend copse/woods.

Super-insulation, passive solar design and ventilation heat recovery allowing for minimal winter heating demand and cool summer conditions.

On-site generation of more energy than we use (carbon neutral), via ground source heatpumps/solar thermal +windpower or CHP (combined heat and power) biofuel/anaerobic digestion.

Timber or steel frame (preferably local pre-used materials) with strawbale walls. External cladding with timber/sprayed lime mortar. Internal cladding with lime plaster (on curves) and fire-resistant board (on the flat). Internal walls with rammed earth (for thermal mass).

Ecological conversion of any existing buildings on site, or use of their materials in a rebuild. Uninsulated walls of existing buidings to become inner or outer cladding for super-insulated walls.

Grey water storage and cleansing with reed beds. Pumping of cleared grey water to small tank in each roof space for flushing ground floor loos. Rain water collection and purification for use in bathing and washing. Mains water for drinking and cooking. Compost loos on first floor levels with urine diversion and small extractor fans under seats.

Shared cars/van to minimise car ownership, lift-sharing arranged via email group to minimise car journeys, biodiesel plant on-site, electric vehicle for local and on-site transport, hoggin paths for all year access around site.

Aim for entire site to be precycled (designed not to end up as waste) at least to the extent that more waste is prevented than created (waste neutral). All building materials to be salvaged, biodegradable, recyclable or re-usable. Heavy metals and persistent synthetic chemicals to be excluded. Decorations, furnishings, appliances, consumables and food to avoid waste generation.

Community to be future-proofed by leases including participation in a residents' association designed for ambitious collaborative and sustainable lifestyles (and unsuitable for conspicuous consumers using the site as a dormitory). Collaborative communication model (based on PET model of Thomas Gordon) including dispute resolution.

Great shared stuff

The distinguishing feature of our project, when compared with conventional individual housing, is the shared stuff; transport, chickens, veg, flowers, childcare, skill-swapping, regular pizza evenings, gardens, equipment such as shredders and mowers, composting, water/energy/waste services, commercial activities. The exact mix of shared stuff will depend on the site and the enthusiasms of the eventual residents. As an individual household, without entirely adopting "the good life" it is possible to enjoy a small selection of the above list but in even a small community it is possible to do far more, with less cost and less effort per person. For example 5 or 10 small wind turbines would cost more and produce less than one large turbine owned jointly. Some chores such as watering the veg can even be turned into a pleasant sociable activity. Everyone should be able to pursue more or less the shared stuff that most interests them and still share the benefits of most or all the activities. A basic timebank will be used to ensure the rewards fairly approximate people's needs and efforts.

This page was updated 15/01/06.

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