Synergy Housing, one of our newest developer members, is involved in this exciting community cohousing project. The aims and structure of this project, and the construction methods, both offer a lot of interest for GHA members. There is a lot of potential demand for cohousing in the UK, with around 100 resident groups wanting to create schemes. In the US, there has been rapid growth in cohousing thanks to the emergence of specialist cohousing developers, and this is something the UK Cohousing Network is keen to promote here. Alan Heeks, who is a Network Board member and will be hosting the Threshold visit, will be happy to discuss this with GHA members. The Threshold Centre is the first and only mixed-tenure cohousing scheme in the UK. This has required some innovation and flexibility from their RSL partner Synergy Housing Group, and from the HCA. Alan recently chaired a Round Table for other RSLs, which has confirmed strong interest in mixed-tenure cohousing, and he can also provide a briefing on this opportunity for GHA Members. Construction at the Threshold Centre includes converting two disused barns to create seven new cottages, all to Ecohomes Excellent Standard; installing a 100kw biomass system to provide district heating to the whole site, and upgrading seven holiday cottages and an old stone farmhouse as part of the scheme. For more information on the project, see www.thresholdcentre.org.uk.

• Date(s):
• 23-9-2009 to 23-9-2009

• Cost:
• �28.75 inc VAT

• Organiser:
• Alan Heeks or Emma Mauger

• Email:
• data@workingvision.com

• Web:
• http://www.thresholdcentre.org.uk

• Telephone:
• 01747 835835