Cambridge Living Future Community

Key workersDamien Clements

Rajiv ChelaniSumit AcharyyaAndrew Clark

Rowan St. Clair

Copyright

What is a village?

When you think of a Village

• Update everyone on the project so far• Establish the groups needs• Begin to bond as a community and establish a

plan to work together to make the project work – share skills, time, tasks, decision making.

• Establish ideas for initial fund raising for pre-planning activities.

• Discuss site options

Goals of this meeting

PhilosophyOur Eco-village philosophy is :

• People Care

• Earth care

• Fair share

Vision

• Beautiful shared spaces • Place to live, work and play • humans as an intrinsic part of the ecosystem• land stewarded for future generations• Neighbourhood with mutual support• Sustainable in every aspect• Affordable for all independent of means

Journey so far• 5 group meetings in Cambridge to:

– Agree a vision– develop Community connection andInteraction in person, and with the useFacebook page, online member Forum,Website, media.- Create Networks/ connections – identify the skills we have within the group

• Read books, Attended conferences, connection with Co-housing, CLT, Transition Network, identifying Potential partners, researched planning, building, energy and food options.

Journey so far..

• Bank Account / Unincorporated group/ CLT start up.

• Meeting with SCDC self build vanguard project, to discuss site availability and pre-planning help.

• Discussions with landowners. - Ed Smith

• Concept models and design ideas/drafts.

Myoho Limited ; copyright

Examples

• Transition Homes Totnes – 7.5 acres 25 homes strawbale, self build option, generate own energy, food and deal with waste on site, community hub, open to those with housing need – social rent, and shared equity. At planning stage. CLT.

• LILAC Leeds - 0.7 acre 20 homes strawbale modcell, generate some energy, allotments, community hub, MHOS for affordability. Finished. Co-housing CLT.

• Threshold Centre - Threshold centre co-housing – existing building and new build with HA for social rent and shared equity. Generate own energy and food, deal with waste on site, community hub. Full ownership and shared equity. Finished.

• Bridport co-housing CLT- similar 7 acres 34 homes, at planning stage, two adjacent sites one for homes, one for growing food. Co-housing CLT.

• CLFC – 15 acres 50 homes, strawbale, self build option, generate own energy, food and deal with waste on site, community hub, work space, open to everyone independent of housing need – social rent, and shared equity, market homes Co-housing CLT.

Myoho Limited ; copyright

Show Stoppers

Myoho Limited ; copyright

In small groups of 2-4 discuss what your must haves, or must haven’ts are for an eco-village..

What do we want – CLFC eco-village survey..

Possible work areas in CLFC

• Well-being, Therapy and Complementary Health care • Training – Mind, Body, Personal growth,

Sustainability• Bookstore, second hand shop, recycling - the

possibilities are endless• Community Supported Agriculture, energy.• Permaculture Training – food, energy, building.• Home Schooling, Childcare, Waldorf School• Care of elderly within community

Possible community structures

• Community Land Trust - Assets stewarded for and by the community, including homes, food, energy, to ensure affordability in perpetuity. Advantages are access to land at affordable prices, unavailable to regular developers/ speculators.

• Co-housing – Communities created and run by the residents with shared facilities. Each household is self contained but can meet, eat, work, play together. Advantages are it is conducive to creating a real community, a place where you like to live, cost savings from sharing.

• Co-op – Designed to provide social housing, either rent, or mutual home ownership, for people in housing need. Each resident is a member of the co-op and helps in its running.

The above are being explored with CLT.

Possible Legal structures

Legal structures that may be appropriate • A Community benefit society (CBS) • A Charitable company• A CIC (Community Interest company)

The above are being explored with CLT.

Myoho Limited ; copyright

Membership & Governance

• community is open to all • CLFC would be managed by its members • an elected Board responsible for operations• any CLFC member can serve on the board• decision making -democratic, consensus based• major different views would get ‘Mediated’ • In the current phase a core group are working

on behalf of the wider group.

challenges

• Maintaining cohesion in team / Partners and making the project sustainable for those involved, whilst meeting the overall groups needs.

• Funding or help for -• Feasibility studies and (pre)planning activities.• Land- We need to identify the correct site, and

fund the purchase. – Options are to get the Land Free or discounted.

Challenges..

• Building• Start-up investment for building and self

sustaining activities.

Myoho Limited ; copyright

Current steps

• Visit similar Eco-villages for ideas / connections – Hockerton Housing Project.

• Establish Community and Legal structure - CLT• Address short-term funding - options.• Work with consultants to formulate a business

plan – Set up an Advisory Board to assist.• Attend programs / conferences – Transition

Homes Totnes.

Current Steps..

• Speaking with the first Community right to build project in the UK- Atmos in Devon.

• Met with Peter Guthrie – Centre of Sustainable Design at Cambridge University, to discuss partnership and land availability - department of Land Economy.

• Proactively look at some potential sites in conjunction with SCDC and CLT.

• Harness the skills and time of the wider group.

Myoho Limited ; copyright

Success is a journey, not a destination

Profiles of key CLFC members• Damien Clements : Damien is passionate about health and all its connections, from the

individual to communities, and has made this his continuing study and practice at The Therapy Room (complementary health clinic) in Cambridge for the past 7 years. He works with individuals and groups, and owns and manages The Therapy Room. He has also studied Permaculture, and uses this as a major tool to plan projects of all sizes. His main skills and passions are in developing ideas, strategy, connections, and a love of learning and its application.

• Rajiv Chelani: Rajiv has been engaged in the corporate, commercial and community sector for over 25 years. He makes effective use of his global commercial expertise gained in 3 continents . He worked in project management and commercial functions in global corporations. His formal engagement with community projects started in 2004. He trained from Regents College London in Mediation and is a practitioner.

• Sumit Acharyya: Sumit is a geneticist who has worked for 2 decades for Cambridge University, he lives and works in Cambridge.

• Andrew Clark: Andrew lives and works in Cambridge and has been part of the K1 co-housing project.

• Rowan St Clair: Rowan is a graduate of the Centre of Alternative Technology in Wales, and brings her skills. Knowledge and contacts.

copyright

CLFC Advisory Board (so far)• Tony Kaye Comes from a business background and recently sold his successful enterprise, he also

serves as a magistrate in Buckinghamshire. He now mentors new enterprises in many different ways, and agreed to help CLFC with financial planning.

• Fleur TimmerAn experienced Master planner and Ecological Landscape designer, who has worked

on eco-housing projects in the UK and worldwide.• James ShortenPlanning advisor for both Transition Homes Totnes and One Planet Development in

Wales.

Myoho Limited ; copyright

CLFC

Contact: Damien: damienclements@gmail.comTel: 07710 473453Rajiv: rchelani@yahoo.com Tel: 07799 645402

Copyright