Lancaster Cohousing - who are we

What is cohousing?

Vision

Lancaster and surrounds

Who are we?

Potential sites

Design

How the project will work


Who are we? Meet the Project Development Team		Meet the Project Development Team We are five of the founder members of Lancaster Cohousing Network (LCHN). We are all excited about living in a Cohousing development in Lancaster and have been meeting regularly and working hard to make it happen. The core group was kept small to make progress more efficient . The initial project group comprises:
		Cllr Chris Coates Company Secretary Chris spent 20 years involved in co-operative housing before moving to Lancaster where he has worked as a construction project manager for community based building projects. He is a councillor on both the City and County Councils. Chris is a partner in Greenbuilt, an Eco-Building Consultancy and Project Management Partnership. He is Chair of the Walter Segal Self Build Trust and an editor of Diggers & Dreamers, a guide to communal living in Britain.

		Jonathan Sear Vice Chair Jon is a former Green County Councillor now working as a consultant on environmental and transport policy. He is also an accredited Domestic Energy Assesor. Jon acted as the client project manager for the Marsh Community Centre during the planning and construction phases of the £300K project. Previously he worked for the Campaign to Protect Rural England on land-use planning and housing issues. Jon has an ecology degree and takes a practical interest in sustainable construction. He is a member of Friends of the Earth's Regional Advisory Group.

		Kathy Bashford Committee Secretary Kathy's work over the last few years has involved promoting a sustainable lifestyle; she recently became a Bike It Officer for Sustrans which involves promoting cycling in schools. Previously she did a PhD and postdoctoral fellowship in Environmental Science. She has also worked for Lancashire Wildlife Trust, the Environment Agency and Lancaster University. She became interested in cohousing whilst doing her fellowship in Berkeley, California where the model is popular.

		Mark Westcombe Treasurer Mark is a management consultant, facilitator and lecturer specialising in supporting organisational teams in the early stages of large, complex projects. He has consulted independently for British Sugar, GORS, Bombardier, Inland Revenue, HEFCE and EPSRC amongst others. He is a company director of the Operation Research Society, a national charity. He was co-chair of the first national Cohousing conference and is administrator of the national Cohousing email distribution list.

		Natalie Gill Chair Natalie works at Lancaster University as a dyslexic tutor to undergraduate students. She is also a postgraduate student doing research into sustainable lifestyles. She is also a trustee for 'Streets Ahead', a charity that provides shelter for Rwandan street children. She has been a guest at a US Cohousing project in 2004.


		Meet the Professional Team
		Nigel Tapp Chartered Surveyor Nigel Tapp is a chartered surveyor and retained property consultant to Lancaster Cohousing. He is assisting us acquire a site and is negotiating with land owners on our behalf. He has over twenty years experience in property having worked at major national practices including Atis Real, CB Richard Ellis and Allsop before opening his own consultancy covering the north of England in 2005. His clients include many Registered Social Landlords (Housing Associations) and he is a member of the Ethical Property Foundations Register of Property Professionals. Website: http://www.nigeltappandco.com/

Lancaster Cohousing Company Ltd., UK
Email: info@lancastercohousing.org.uk

We will make every effort to keep this website up to date. Policies and procedures are subject to change all the time and the definitive position is to be found in the Company and Management Committee minutes. Please join if you would like access to these.