Forgebank – Environmental cohousing project

1. LancasterCohousing Forgebank – Environmental cohousing project Jan Maskell Director of Process

2. Forgebank • What is environmental cohousing? • A little history... • Main aspects of our project

3. What is environmental cohousing? • Eco-homes • Low environmental impact during both building and use; long life-span • Using standards such as Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) and/or ‘PassivHaus’ • Cohousing • Private homes (smaller than average) • Communal facilities, including ‘common house’

4. A little history...

6. Ecoarc • Award winning chartered architects committed to sustainable design • Specialising in carbon neutral ecological architecture, eco building and sustainable design

8. Halton site

9. Main Project Features • 41 eco-homes • 35 within cohousing group; 6 at edge of site • Super-insulated; use of renewable energy • Office and workshop space • Communal facilities • Shared indoor and outdoor space • Travel plan • Inclusive organisational structure • Community links

10. Eco-Houses • Built to ‘PassivHaus’ standard • South-facing to maximise solar energy input • Super-insulated, including triple-glazing • 90% less energy consumption than average UK house • Airtight and sealed to retain heat • Materials (for example) • Walls: recycled concrete blocks; cavity filled with recycled glass-wool • Roofs: clay tiles; wood insulation • Wood from sustainable sources

11. Renewable energy • Low energy consumption to be met through: • Hydro-electric generator (separate project) • Solar photo-voltaic panels • Wood chip boiler and solar thermal panels for hot water and heating • Some dependent on government funding

12. Workspace • Existing ‘Mill’ building • Allows residents and other local people to work close to home • Energy efficiency improvements • 15 offices/ studios/ workshops

13. Indoor communal facilities • Common house • Shared vegetarian meals several times a week • General social space • Guest rooms • Allows residents to opt for smaller houses • Laundry • Children’s room • Storage for food, bikes etc

14. Outdoor communal facilities • 6 acre site • Food growing areas • Woodland and areas for wildlife • Leisure uses

15. Travel Plan • Aim: To reduce travel and prioritise environmentally-friendly options • Workspace close by • Facilities to support cycling, walking, use of public transport • Car share scheme • Approx 1 car per 3 households • Cars at edge of site

16. Inclusive organisational structure • Not-for-profit company • All households are members • Consensus decision-making processes • Monthly General Meetings • 7 Directors oversee the project • Project manager + professional team • All members contribute 2-3 hours a week to communal work

17. Community links • Part of Halton Carbon Positive • Ongoing links with Parish Council and Community Centre • Potential for local employment in Mill offices/ workshops

18. Who is in the project? • Mixture of Lancaster residents and people from further afield • Ages from 2 months to retired • Range of backgrounds

19. Organisational Structure

20. LancasterCohousing Where have we got to? Where have we got to? • Land purchased July 2009 • Planning docs prep Oct – March 2010 • Planning permission July 2010 • Prepare tender docs June – July 2010 • Preferred contractor decided Sept 2010 • Working drawings developed Sept - Dec 2010 • Contractor pricing works Nov – Dec 2010 • Negotiation with contractor Jan 2011 • Appoint contractor Feb 2011 • Negotiations with the bank Jan 2011 - July 2011 • Loan agreed July 2011 • Construction began Aug 2011 • Leases signed Dec 2011