UK Cohousing upcoming events
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Editor’s letter
It’s a new season and our event series gets underway
Do any of these ring true for you?
You’ve been thinking about cohousing over the summer, maybe even learnt the phrase and curious to find out more?
You’re ready to dive in and find a community? Or start a new one where you live?
You’re in a group and figuring out how you start the planning process?
You’re an industry professional and wondering how cohousing can be part of bigger housing projects?
You’re wondering how the UK cohousing and the wider community-led housing movement is building and how academic research could be more joined up?
You’re looking to find like-minded souls in your region?
If yes, then we have a month full of events for you. We hope to meet you at one of them.
Meet us in September
Thursday 3rd September 12.00 | Online | UK Housing Associations Delivering Cohousing: A UK First
Tuesday 8th September 19.00 | Online | Planning and Cohousing – Understanding the Planning System | By donation
Tuesday 15th September | London | Community-Led Housing Futures Summit 2026 | by request
Followed by Cohousing Tour: Building the Neighbourhoods We Need - stopping at 4 cities across England:
Manchester | 28 September
Cardiff | 29 September
Bristol | 30 September
London | 1 October
Financing cohousing features in industry association
Securing mortgages has been an ongoing challenge for our members and a key priority area for us to tackle. We recently welcomed new Board Member Gary Brook with his mutual and mortgage sector experience. And UKCN’s CEO, Owen Jarvis wrote a guest blog for the Building Societies Association (BSA) to reach the wider sector. The BSA represents all 42 UK building societies, including mutuals, together these organisations serve around 26 million customers in the UK. UKCN’s CEO Owen Jarvis featured in their blog recently to talk about financing cohousing. He writes, “The mutual movement has always been at its best when it combines commercial expertise with social purpose. Cohousing demonstrates how housing can deliver not only shelter, but belonging, participation and mutual support. Together, they point towards a future where housing is viewed not simply as a transaction, but as a foundation for stronger communities and better lives.”
Open Days and new directory
Many existing cohousing communities open up their doors so you can learn about the lifestyle. Don’t miss your opportunity to find out more, visit these spaces and meet the community.
Sheffield, Five Rivers - 5th September. Details here.
Norwich, Angel’s Yard - online - 9th September. Details here.*
Cambridgeshire, Northstowe and Suvana - 12th September. Register here.*
Lancaster cohousing - 19th September. Register here.*
Milton Keynes, Still Green Cohousing (50+) - 26th September. Details here.*
Leeds, CHACO - 10th October. Details here.
Leeds, LILAC - 17th October. Details coming soon.
* actively recruiting
The 13th edition of the Diggers & Dreamers is now available. It’s 196 pages packed with articles, photos, ruminations and a directory of intentional communities in Britain. Visit their shop.
New Board Member Focus: Savannah Fishel
Savannah Fishel is a speaker, researcher, and the author of Beyond the White Picket Fence: A Companion for Intergenerational Communal Living. As a Churchill Fellow, she visited 54 intergenerational communal homes across Australia and the United States exploring themes including inclusion, affordability and managing conflict. Savannah works as a Senior Innovation Consultant and Service Designer in the UK, facilitating systems change across health, nature and local economies. Savannah's work is informed by a background in health policy, politics, and a personal belief in the centrality of social infrastructure to individual and collective wellbeing. "I'm delighted to be joining the UK Cohousing Network Board now, when society is calling out for connection, community and creative housing solutions. My own experience of communal living, alongside research into intentional communities internationally, has shown me that cohousing is about far more than housing. It has the potential to address some of our most pressing challenges, from loneliness and healthy ageing to community resilience and polarisation. I'm excited to support UKCN in growing the movement, making cohousing more visible, accessible and diverse. I'd love to see communal housing grow from a niche idea to a recognised pathway towards healthier, more connected communities, reinvigorating the role of the neighbour and strengthening the social fabric we all depend on."
Savannah Fishel
Community updates
Milton Keynes’ Still Green: Have been building their outreach in their neighbourhood by hosting a stall at Wolverton Market
York’s Lowfield Green and their CLT, YorSpace have shortlisted for ‘Most Innovative Affordable Housing Project’ at the Building Innovation Awards!
Leed’s CHACO residents feature in a video explainer series all about community-led housing with People Powered Homes. Watch their 2 min inspirational stories episode.
Our newsletter goes out the first week of every month so please email through to us in advance at office@cohousing.org.uk and try to include images or links to video if you can.