Saffron Wilmot, our social value representative and Women in Social Housing member (WISH) recently attended WISH London’s “New Ground, New Ways” event at the UK’s first senior Cohousing community in High Barnet – a brilliant opportunity to celebrate housing genuinely designed with and for older women.
The evening featured a short film screening, guided tours of the 25 purpose-built flats and shared gardens, plus inspiring conversations with the 26 remarkable women who created this living model that supports independence and social connection.
Patrick Devlin, partner at Pollard Thomas Edwards, gave an inspiring talk, describing the New Ground women as the perfect clients, “seeing them growing into the home they codesigned over the last nine years, and increasingly make it their own.” Working with the residents from the outset, PTE helped translate their community vision into architecture that truly supports their way of life rather than imposing a top-down model.
The residents collaborated with the UK Cohousing Network on the Practical Guide to Cohousing – a generous resource for others looking to follow in their footsteps. As one founder said: “we’re unique, but we don’t want to be.” Projects like New Ground, while increasing in number, are relatively few and undervalued. There is a growing need for more developments that are led by the people who will live in them and designed to encourage connection and wellbeing.
Huge thanks to WISH London for organising this uplifting gathering. Seeing how these women challenged conventional models and created something that reduces isolation while enhancing wellbeing was truly inspiring – we need many more resident-led projects like this one!
