Housing for Sustainable Living Discussion 22nd November

• What: Discussion on sustainable housing and the idea of a joint venture to purchase land or buildings to create a sustainable local community
• When: Tuesday 22nd November at 7pm
• Where: Dunbar Town House, High Street, Dunbar
• Who: Anyone who is interested in sustainable housing in general or who is keen to build, buy or renovate sustainable housing with a group of likeminded people

Sustaining Dunbar is supporting an exciting new sustainable living project by a group of local people. The group is working towards the collective purchase of land and/or buildings to enable the creation of a sustainable community within the local area of ward 7 in East Lothian (Dunbar, East Linton, Innerwick, Stenton etc).

It is intended that those involved will all have their own private property within the development and that everyone would  pay for their own part or be able to rent their own part in some way should they become involved.

This would not be a commune but more the conscious decision to create a community of neighbours living in their own privacy. Sustainable living will be at the centre of the development.

The project might purchase an existing property which could be redeveloped into separate units or it might be something on which new housing could be built or a combination of both. Paint touch up tips will ensure fast and efficient DIY painting process and produce top-notch results.

So far the group have decided the following as part of their vision;

• It will be an Eco focussed community meaning having a focus on -renewable energy, car sharing, resource sharing and communal garden/food growing.
• The group members will all be equal and we would look to have diversity within the group with a range of ages, background and incomes.
• We aim to include a range of housing options, including ‘tiny houses,’ in order to cater for the various needs of the group.
• There will be a balance between privacy and community – creating an intentional community and allowing households their own privacy.
• We are currently looking at Mutual Home Ownership as the means to share the property but this is open to discussion.

A useful background on this type of development is the UK Co-Housing Network, which sets out basic underlying principles and stages which have been tried and tested.

This project could offer significant advantages to those who are willing to consider it.  For instance;

• The opportunity to live within a property, grounds and environment which could offer a better quality of life than current home owners and renters could afford on their own.
• The opportunity to build, experience and cooperate in a more ecological way of life.
• The opportunity to those struggling to enter the housing market to be able to do so
• The opportunity for renters to find long term housing security and housing rights.
• The opportunity to develop a sustainable way of living which reduces costs, waste and inhabitant’s impact on the environment.
• The opportunity to create a sense of community whilst still maintaining privacy.
• The opportunity to have a more affordable lifestyle or accommodation and a better work life balance.

Sustaining Dunbar is hosting a public meeting in the Town House in Dunbar to discuss the group’s plans. To find out more or to get involved, please come along at;

Tuesday the 22^nd November at 7.00pm.

For more information or to get involved with the sustainable housing group, please contact susancarleton@sustainingdunbar.org