Cote House
At Cote House we are creating a cohousing community in Bristol, BS9, of eleven homes in an exceptionally green and peaceful setting. They will be newly-converted from an historic building that sits in a unique location: a countryside oasis that’s just an easy walk from the high street.
The Community
Cohousing projects or intentional communities are always individual and vary widely. They are neither communes nor commercial developments.
The Cote House community will be:
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An intentional community of individual, owner-occupied private homes with additional shared space, and shared tasks, both indoors and out
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Multi-generational
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Focused on a more green and sustainable way of life
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Inclusive, respectful and sharing
The Buildings
Alongside the ten dwellings, the house will contain elegant communal spaces for social gatherings and events, including shared meals, perhaps weekly or fortnightly. Also under consideration for communal provision are guest bedrooms, bike sheds, workshop, laundry, sauna, gym and studio/office space.
Gardens & Open Space
Cote House stands in several acres of grounds, with long distance views to the surrounding hills. There are existing woodlands and formal gardens, with an Orangery which will be restored. We aim to create ‘kitchen gardens’ and an orchard where the whole community can contribute to the growing of fruit and vegetables. Another priority is to increase the biodiversity of the remaining grassland and woodland and to create a wildlife pond.
Almost all of the grounds will be shared, with very small private spaces by some dwellings.
Cars will not take priority at Cote House. There will be sufficient car-parking, but to preserve the green and tranquil setting, it will be a little way from the buildings. There will also be drop-off points nearer to front doors.
Living at Cote House
There will be many opportunities for social interaction, participation and connection within the community. Striking a balance with the need for privacy and peaceful enjoyment of the spaces will be of equal importance.
It is vital that a community member is someone who can resolve their differences with others. There will inevitably be meetings, but we aim to keep these and rules/guidelines to the essential minimum.
Community members would be expected to participate in activities such as:
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Preparation of occasional communal meals
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Maintenance of the grounds and gardens
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Organisation and administration
Time commitments for participation will be set out and agreed by the community to ensure it is manageable for all but there is an expectation that everyone will make some contribution.
The Accommodation
The proposed eleven dwellings vary in size from a small one-bedroom flat to larger three-bedroom houses. Four will be flats and seven will be houses or similar. The ‘houses’ have two storeys, their own front door, direct garden access and a small area of private garden.
Ownership & Re-Sale
Prices following completion of the conversion and renovation works, including all communal elements, range from £400,000 - £750,000 approximately.
Ownership and legal structure will closely follow the standard used in England for flats. Each resident will have a share in a company which owns and manages the freehold and each resident will be granted a long leasehold on their accommodation. Leases can be mortgaged in the usual way.
Re-sale will be on the normal open market with a special requirement being that new owners sign up to the community rules.
Timeline
Completed homes will become available from about mid-2027 through to 2030.
The pace will ultimately depend on uptake, funding and the vagaries of construction.
If you or someone you know might be interested in living at Cote House, please leave your email address and details below so that we can get in touch when we are in a position to discuss bringing on new community members. At the moment we are busy with purchasing the site, getting planning permission and initiating refurbishment, so we anticipate that it will be sometime in the first half of 2027 that we will be in touch with potential new community members.
If this unusual opportunity seems like something you might like to explore, please leave your details below.
