Co-operative housing makes a contribution towards the balanced supply of housing options and solutions to meet local needs and demands, particularly in town and city districts, including urban renewal and regeneration areas.
The development of co-operative housing is a response to local community housing needs, rather than simply seeking to increase housing stock to facilitate organisational growth and income generation. However, it is necessary to achieve co-operative housing projects which are economically viable and worthwhile.
The National Association of Building Co-operatives and affiliated co-operative housing societies seek productive partnerships with local authorities and other agencies in the public, community and private sectors to expand and enhance the contribution of co-operative housing.
The Association’s development activities may assist the expansion of an existing affiliated co-operative housing society in the same district/area or promote the formation of a new co-operative housing society.
The Association may act as a co-operative housing development agency to:-
- acquire suitable sites and arrange the planning/design and financing of new co-operative housing projects,
- acquire completed houses or apartments suitable for co-operative housing purposes (subject to workable financial arrangements),
- enter into an arrangement with a local authority for the acquisition of suitable dwellings or sites for co-operative housing purposes, following an agreement made between the local authority and a private developer under Part V of the Planning and Development Acts for the supply of social rented and/or affordable ownership dwellings or sites.
The majority of co-operative housing developments have been carried out on sites allocated by the local authorities for the building of ownership or rental dwellings, or suitably planned mixed tenure developments.
Co-operative housing developments generally consist of a minimum 10-20 and up to 60-80 dwelling units, provided in well planned, compact or clustered group schemes of houses or apartment buildings. Both urban renewal infill and suburban sites have been used. Co-operative communal welfare and meeting room facilities are also often included. Some larger co-operative housing developments comprise a suitably planned layout for a mix of rental and ownership dwellings.
Co-operative housing societies facilitate local ownership and participation, involving member/residents in the management of housing services, including the upkeep and care of their housing estates and apartment buildings. Co-operative housing development, therefore, enhances the potential for building sustainable communities.