When can we move in?
26 women have joined together to create a female-only co-housing community for older women.
Based in High Barnet, North London, this apartment block is the UK’s first group living community for older women. New Ground Cohousing is described as “a community-led housing scheme with a difference”.
As an alternative to living alone, these women live together with friendly, helpful neighbours. Most importantly, it is a place where they can look out for each other, and not after one another.
New Ground has 25 flats, and is home to a diverse group of 26 women aged between 58 and 94 years old, who manage all aspects of life together in their community. The women initially bought the flats to create their own co-housing facility, and eight are rented from a social landlord. The complex is made up of plenty of shared spaces for women to garden, cook, watch movies and live their lives together. There is also a guest suite for overnight visitors.
The senior co-housing community hopes to demonstrate to policymakers and local authorities that these flats can significantly improve people’s quality of life, and “reduce pressures on health and care services” in the UK.
Speaking to the BBC, some of New Ground’s residents revealed what the community means to them.
“I think it’s a no-brainer way for people to live. There’s so much fear, and so many problems in the world – to live in a community for any age can only be rewarding.”
The residents said it may not be for everyone, but the results so far have been “huge.”
They stressed that having somebody around to socialise with has been incredible.
77-year-old resident Mags Beltran added, “The onus is on really not being lonely, but it’s so fabulous because you can be lonely if you want to.”
