Pioneer Intergenerational Co-Housing – The Cockaigne Houses in Hatfield
/This viewpoint gives a personal account of the development of a pioneering intergenerational cohousing scheme in Hatfield, built over 50 years ago.
As recognised in the APPG on Housing and Care for Older People inquiry in 2016, it is a forerunner to the HAPPI principles and its attractive single storey design and build quality have stood the test of time. The development was not specifically designed for older people but both the adaptable design and the management are based on cooperative ideals and most of the residents are now of retirement age with 11 of the 28 households being ‘downsizers’. Furthermore, the affection for Cockaigne architecturally and the adaptability of the houses to meet a diverse range of ages, lifestyle choices and disability has also ensured a low turnover in ownership.
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