Cohousing
Cohousing communities combine private homes with shared spaces and a stronger sense of community. TOWN is the UK’s leading cohousing developer, with seven schemes currently in progress across the UK, building on the success of Marmalade Lane in Cambridge.
Cohousing
Cohousing communities combine private homes with shared spaces and a stronger sense of community. TOWN is the UK’s leading cohousing developer, with seven schemes currently in progress across the UK, building on the success of Marmalade Lane in Cambridge.
What is cohousing?
Cohousing communities combine private homes with shared spaces and a stronger sense of community. Residents have their own self-contained homes while sharing spaces such as gardens, common houses and play areas, creating more sociable and supportive neighbourhoods. At Marmalade Lane in Cambridge, residents share meals, organise activities together and support one another in everyday life.
What is cohousing?
Cohousing communities combine private homes with shared spaces and a stronger sense of community. Residents have their own self-contained homes while sharing spaces such as gardens, common houses and play areas, creating more sociable and supportive neighbourhoods. At Marmalade Lane in Cambridge, residents share meals, organise activities together and support one another in everyday life.
What are the benefits for children and families?
Cohousing can give children greater independence, access to shared outdoor space and a friendly community to grow up in. For parents, it can create stronger support networks, reduced isolation and more opportunities for shared childcare and community life.
What are the benefits for children and families?
Cohousing can give children greater independence, access to shared outdoor space and a friendly community to grow up in. For parents, it can create stronger support networks, reduced isolation and more opportunities for shared childcare and community life.
What’s cohousing all about?
Designed for social interaction
Cohousing communities are intentional communities, designed from the outset to encourage and enable social interaction. The communities are set up so neighbours naturally meet, chat and spend time together.
Designed for social interaction
Cohousing communities are intentional communities, designed from the outset to encourage and enable social interaction. The communities are set up so neighbours naturally meet, chat and spend time together.
A blend of private and social spaces
Everyone has their own homes but the community shares spaces, resources and responsibilities. These might include a common house with a kitchen and dining room, guest rooms, a garden or even a car pool – places and things that make everyday life easier and more sociable.
A blend of private and social spaces
Everyone has their own homes but the community shares spaces, resources and responsibilities. These might include a common house with a kitchen and dining room, guest rooms, a garden or even a car pool – places and things that make everyday life easier and more sociable.
Codesigned with residents
Future residents are involved in shaping their homes and future community, tailoring their spaces and facilities to suit their needs.
Codesigned with residents
Future residents are involved in shaping their homes and future community, tailoring their spaces and facilities to suit their needs.
Collectively managed by residents
Residents manage their own community, looking after its maintenance and development.
Collectively managed by residents
Residents manage their own community, looking after its maintenance and development.
Inclusive and part of a wider community
Cohousing groups are open to new members and often play an active role in their wider local communities.
Inclusive and part of a wider community
Cohousing groups are open to new members and often play an active role in their wider local communities.
The cohousing process
The journey towards cohousing is an exciting and collaborative process, where you’ll have the opportunity to shape not only your future home but also the neighbourhood you’ll be part of.
Join a group and meet your future neighbours
Start by finding a project that aligns with your preferred location and values. Join a group of like-minded individuals and begin building connections with your future neighbours.
Participate in the design of your home and community
Engage in a series of codesign workshops with TOWN and the design team. These sessions provide an opportunity for you to contribute to the design of your home and the broader community.
Reservation and purchase
Proceed with the reservation and purchase process, similar to any other off-plan property purchase. This step involves finalising your commitment and preparing for the transition into your new home.
Move in
Once construction is complete, move into your new home and settle into the community you helped design.
The cohousing process
The journey towards cohousing is an exciting and collaborative process, where you’ll have the opportunity to shape not only your future home but also the neighbourhood you’ll be part of.
Join a group and meet your future neighbours
Start by finding a project that aligns with your preferred location and values. Join a group of like-minded individuals and begin building connections with your future neighbours.
Participate in the design of your home and community
Engage in a series of codesign workshops with TOWN and the design team. These sessions provide an opportunity for you to contribute to the design of your home and the broader community.
Reservation and purchase
Proceed with the reservation and purchase process, similar to any other off-plan property purchase. This step involves finalising your commitment and preparing for the transition into your new home.
Move in
Once construction is complete, move into your new home and settle into the community you helped design.
Would you like to live in a TOWN Cohousing project?
Register your interest to find out more about living in a TOWN cohousing community.
Current projects
Find out more about TOWN’s in-progress cohousing projects below
Current projects
Find out more about TOWN’s in-progress cohousing projects below
Marmalade Lane, Cambridge.
Marmalade Lane is Cambridge’s first cohousing community. It was completed in 2018 and comprises 42 homes, designed in collaboration with its residents.
Marmalade Lane, Cambridge.
Marmalade Lane is Cambridge’s first cohousing community. It was completed in 2018 and comprises 42 homes, designed in collaboration with its residents.
Want to find out more about cohousing in the UK?
The UK Cohousing Network is a membership organisation with a mission to enable communities to use the cohousing principles to create better places to live. UKCN has a wide range of resources and information to support people looking to live in cohousing developments across the UK.
Want to find out more about cohousing in the UK?
The UK Cohousing Network is a membership organisation with a mission to enable communities to use the cohousing principles to create better places to live. UKCN has a wide range of resources and information to support people looking to live in cohousing developments across the UK.
Find out what it’s really like to live in a cohousing community
Our report ‘Insights from Marmalade Lane’ explores what life is really like at Marmalade Lane (5 years after its completion), and the impact of this kind of development on its residents, from a variety of social, economic and environmental perspectives.
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