Creating more sustainable

Nigel Griffiths takes a closer look at the benefits of collective self build projects

Typically, people who aspire to self build want more than just a home that’s beautiful and sustainable. Often, they’re keen to become part of a community of like-minded people, to share their experiences and look after the surrounding environment. But our current volume-builder-led model of housing development doesn’t lend itself to forming genuine sustainable communities. Frequently, there’s a lack of public space or facilities, as ‘accommodation units’ are maximised on available plots. It’s all about profit and fails to recognise that we’re members of the same wider community, and that commerce is only one way to share the resources with which we’ve been provided.

Many people who wish to create a bespoke home want to reduce their impact on the environment, and to enhance it where possible. Naturally, this leads to a preference for using sustainable construction. It’s notable that many of the truly locally managed developments in recent years are exemplars of green construction.

What does community development offer?

These days, with our often-insular lives, we’re not great at sharing. An Englishman’s home is famously his castle, and privacy is designed-in and jealously guarded in dense settings, such as terraced housing. Communal outdoor space is rare and facilities even rarer. By contrast, upmarket developments might include a swimming pool, a tennis court or a Jacuzzi, all co-owned by residents.