Sturts Farm Co-housing Neighbourhood
Our team have designed a new co-housing neighbourhood for Sturts Community Trust in Ferndown Dorset. This co-housing development, will provide sustainable, purpose-built housing designed to promote inclusive, community-focused living for companions, support workers, and families.
People & Communities
The new neighbourhood is purposefully designed to enhance the physical, mental, and social well-being of all residents. The shared kitchen, dining space, and common room offer areas for companions, families, and support workers to connect, share meals, and engage in community activities.
Designing a Co-housing Community
The new co-housing neighbourhood is designed around Sturts Community Trust’s shared lives model, providing a supportive living environment for individuals requiring care and support while encouraging independence. The proposal includes seven assisted living studios, two three-bedroom houses, one four-bedroom house, and a two-bedroom flat, along with communal facilities such as a shared kitchen, dining room, and laundry.
The design features a courtyard layout centred around a communal herb garden, creating opportunities for social interaction while maintaining privacy. The front doors of all residences face the central courtyard, reinforcing a sense of community and belonging. The new neighbourhood development has been sensitively designed to sit respectively within the existing community setting and Green Belt site. The proposal will provide a new residential neighbourhood to provide suitable accommodation for co-housing living between companions, charity support workers and families.
Inclusive Community Living
Sturts Farm is a well-established mixed-working farm that uses sustainable biodynamic farming practices, to produce meat, dairy, and vegetables to the community and general public, while also offering adults with learning difficulties—known as companions—a safe, supportive environment to live, learn, and work alongside others of all abilities.
Our team have worked closely to create a scheme that encompassed Sturts Community Trust ethos of co-housing, mutual support, & inclusivity. The building has been designed to provide a fully inclusive space, that offers future flexibility, without barriers to participation, for all residents, particularly residents with ASD. Key features include:
- Level access throughout the development.
- Single-storey living for all residential and communal spaces.
- Adaptable WC, shower, and changing facilities for long-term flexibility.
- No access control barriers, emphasising openness and community management
Context & Place
The architectural design takes direct inspiration from the site’s historic farm buildings, creating a contemporary yet respectful addition to the landscape. The use of reclaimed brick and slate ensures the new development blends seamlessly with its surroundings, while modern construction techniques ensure sustainability and energy efficiency.
Sustainable Design for Modern Community Living
Designed with a focus on sustainability and minimal environmental impact, the development will be constructed using reclaimed red brickwork and natural slate tiles, reflecting the farm’s agricultural heritage while reducing embodied carbon. The proposal will enhance biodiversity on site by achieving a >10% net gain.
The homes will feature a highly insulated thermal envelope exceeding current building regulations and meeting LETI standards. Key sustainability features include:
- Reclaimed red brick and natural slate roof tiles, sourced locally to reduce carbon footprint.
- High-performance insulation for improved energy efficiency.
- Rainwater goods made from zinc, aligning with the agricultural aesthetic.
- Integration of solar PV Panels
- Thoughtful landscaping to enhance biodiversity and natural habitat quality.
Sustainability
The new neighbourhood is purposefully designed to enhance the physical, mental, and social well-being of all residents. The shared kitchen, dining space, and common room offer areas for companions, families, and support workers to connect, share meals, and engage in community activities.
Creating a Community Centred Residential Space
The design respects the rich history of the farm while introducing a contemporary, community-focused identity. Reclaimed red brick and slate roofing will echo the adjacent barn, while timber detailing will connect the buildings with their natural surroundings. Sturts Community Trust has long provided a supportive, nurturing environment where adults with learning disabilities can live, work, and grow alongside others. This new co-housing neighbourhood embodies the Trust’s values, offering:
- Communal spaces like a shared dining area for group meals and social activities.
- Opportunities for all residents to engage in the farm’s biodynamic practices.
- A design that encourages physical and mental well-being through community interaction.
This project reflects Footprint Architects’ commitment to creating sustainable, inclusive, and context-sensitive architecture. Sturts Farm Co-housing Neighbourhood has been submitted for planning, and we look forward to sharing progress as it develops.
Relevant Projects
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An award-winning modern farmhouse refurbishment, barn conversion and extension to a Grade II Listed home
Get Your Project Off The Ground
Get in touch today to kick-start your project. Let us know a few details and we’ll be in touch to discuss bringing your vision to life.
