For six weeks the Sheffield Cohousing Live Project group were based in the Live Works urban room, where they were looking into the potential for developing alternative housing models in Sheffield, with a specific focus on cohousing. The group of students were undertaking the research for Sheffield City Council, who have recently been given vanguard status as part of the Government’s ‘Right to Build’ scheme, to pilot and promote custom build housing.

The outputs of the project included a new online resource for the general public, which introduced cohousing, outlined the benefits of communal living, and provided a basic guide to developing a new cohousing scheme. The students also facilitated a workshop in Live Works between Sheffield City Council and other key stakeholders, to open a dialogue about the potential for alternative housing procurement methods.

For more information about Live Projects, visit http://www.liveprojects.org