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>An eco-village for all > >Robert Tomlinson > >Adapted extracts from faxes to the Institute. > >The Amadea Housing Project in Devon, UK, like the >Living Village Trust (see The Living Village Trust) in >Shropshire, is an ecological, working community for >the new breed of environmentally aware person. > > >There is, for example, a growing number of older >people for whom the conventional idea of retirement is >no longer a desirable option. Still active, both in >mind and body, a new 'third age' generation is >emerging that is not heading for the scrapheap. They >want shelter, security and care in old age, but they >also want to remain active, continue to give to >society and grow individually. > >The Amadea housing project is a group of individuals >united by a wish to create an >environmentally-sensitive working community - an >eco-village. Independent, financially and >intellectually, the Amadea project is founded on >ecological and spiritual principles that bring benefit >to residents, the local community and the global >environment alike. Its motto - "In the shelter of each >other we live" - redefines the concept of sheltered >housing. > >Amadea are also aware of the social impact of an >expanding elderly population. "The Amadea philosophy >of caring for one another as we grow older", says >Living Village Trust founder Robert Tomlinson, "should >mean that we will not rely so heavily on Social >Services and the NHS. We feel that this could be one >good way of solving some of the problems posed by an >ageing population and could encourage people to take >more responsibility for themselves, particularly in >old age." > >Other plans include a nearby younger person's >development which could form a closed circuit of care >and support. If, for instance, the younger people come >to work in Amadea's proposed teleworking facility, >their children can be cared for by members of the >older community. Beyond the economic and environmental >benefits of such an approach, there are great social >advantages to be gained - such as a sense of extended >family & community - which are increasingly hard to >find. > > >'Six eco-houses arranged around a courtyard and >designed for a co-housing lifestyle' >The first Living Village project is the Six Bells site >in Bishops Castle, Shropshire, which is now going >ahead with planning permission. The architects have >prepared a scheme for six highly energy efficient >eco-houses to be arranged around a courtyard and >designed for a co-housing lifestyle. The houses are to >be integrated within the present functioning of the >Six Bells site, which includes offices, workshops, >cafe, pub, brewery, natural health centre, community >garden and bowling green. The site is to have a >Combined Heat and Power system run from biomass fuel >which will also charge an electric car sharing scheme. > >The Six Bells project has genuine local involvement, >with over 80 per cent of people working on site having >being born and bred in the area or having lived there >15 years plus. It is important to the Trust that the >housing development is seen as part of the development >of the town of Bishops Castle and not as some green >development in isolation. > >The houses are to be timber framed and use local, >sustainable materials where possible. The Six Bells >Trust is also setting up a timber framing workshop on >site so as to build the houses using a local labour >force. It is hoped that this facility and team can >then carry on to build other eco-housing schemes >elsewhere. > >Funding for the project has been agreed in principle >with Triodus bank and the final details are being >worked out as the planning permissions are obtained. > >Already the scheme has attracted interest and the >Trust is establishing a data base and support network >for people wanting involvement with eco-housing and >co-housing schemes. The Amadea group also have another >scheme ' on the go' in Devon. > >If you are interested in living in an eco-village and >would like to join Amadea's information service and >waiting list, please send a subscription fee of £5 to >'Amadea', The GEN Centre, The Six Bells, Bishops >Castle, Shropshire SY9 5AA (tel 01588 638 958; fax >01588 638 868; e-mail: living.village@btinternet.com). > >For older women interested in joining the beginnings >of a London Co-Housing group contact Astra on 020 8346 >1900 (evenings). Next meeting: 3 November 1998. > > >Recent updates >The Living Village Trust is now in the throes of three >major projects. The first, as detailed above, is the >building of 5 eco-friendly houses behind the Six Bells >pub. The first is now due to be completed for >Christmas 2000. >The second is a learning studio at Castle Green, which >home-educated children and adults use as a centre for >a range of active learning projects. > >The third, and most substantial, is the living village >at the Wintles in Bishops Castle. Planning has been >granted for 40 houses, and the sustainable >neighbourhood is intended to include no cars, >woodland, an orchard, an organic garden, and various >community facilities. > >Plans for the projects can be downloaded, and more >information found, at www.livingvillage.com
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