Cohousing group plans for 7 homes at ex-camp
A COHOUSING group has revealed plans to build seven new homes for members on the site of a former Staffordshire Moorlands army camp.
Leek Cohousing, a group made up of single people, families and couples from Leek and surrounding areas, wants to develop the homes on the site of the former Camp 3 at the Anzio Camp, off Thorncliffe Lane in Blackshaw Moor.
Five new ‘low-impact’ homes will be built on the site, while existing buildings at the disused site will be converted into two more homes if the plans are approved - with a total of three of the properties housing studio work spaces.
Other changes to the site would include:
▶ One of the existing buildings on the site being converted into a common house with shared facilities including a meeting room, kitchen, dining room, food pantry, two guest bedrooms, an office with four work stations, a reception and laundry.
▶ Another existing building will be turned into a shared workshop.
▶ Orchards and communal gardens including organic vegetable gardens and raised planting beds - as well as ‘ecologically enriched landscaping’
▶ A shared car parking area including 14 spaces for residents, tqo spaces for disabled users, 2 spaces for shared electric vehicles, and 4 spaces for visitors to the common house - as well as charging facilities for electric cars
The plans also include a new service building with secure cycle store, a ‘sustainable’ drainage system and a renewable energy system including roof-mounted solar panels and ‘ground source heat from up to nine boreholes linked to individual buildings.’
In their design and access statement Leek Cohousing said: “Leek Cohousing is a group made up of individuals, couples and families who all share the vision of a low impact and sustainable way of living.
“Leek Cohousing was set up to acquire a site to build a small group of self-build sustainable homes for purchase at cost price for its members and to provide communal facilities in the form of a common house, visitor accommodation for residents guests, shared workshop and four gardens.”
The group had looked at a number of other sites in Leek and surrounding areas for more than two years before settling on the site.
The statement added: “Cohousing is an international movement which originated in Denmark. Cohousing communities are intentional communities, created and run by their residents.
“Each household has a self-contained private home and access to shared community buildings and outdoor space. Residents come together to make, manage, use and maintain their shared facilities.
“By sharing facilities and equipment where appropriate, cohousing enables a more efficient, cost-effective and conservative use of resources, and readily supports a more sustainable way of living.”
Camp Three is one of four camps built in the surrounding area. Camp One now houses the Blackshaw Moor Caravan and Motorhome Club while Camp Two has now been replaced with the Tittesworth estate and a primary school.
Camp Four, off the A53 , has recently been subject to a grant of planning permission for extra care housing, a holiday park, live work units, social building and ancillary facilities, according to the design and access statement.
A public consultation on the plans for Camp Three is taking place until January 30 - with Staffordshire Moorlands District Council set to make a decision early in 2019.