A new co-housing development has just been completed outside of Lancaster. Residents who formed the Lancaster CoHousing Group three years ago have reduced their environmental impact and costs by combining resources. They share a laundry, tools, kitchen facilities and a playroom.

The houses have all been designed to the Passivhaus standard. This aims to reduce energy consumption through the use of sprayed insulation, triple glazing, biomass boilers and solar panels.

Another self-build housing cooperative has been developed on the outskirts of Leeds. Packed with straw bales and sprayed with lime render, the straw keeps the heat in and the sound out.