Project Oliver House, York
Native supported YorSpace in their bid to buy and redevelop Oliver House to convert the council owned, former elderly peoples home in Bishop Hill. YorSpace are a York based community housing group whose vision is to create low cost, cooperatively owned, sustainable homes that create and sustain community.
The proposal was to retain the existing building, refurbish using renewable insulation materials to upgrade the fabric and create 14 low cost housing units that ranged from one to three bed in size. Their plans included the provision of community space which included a community “Common House” building open to residents and the wider community. There was also plans to create community allotment space, cycle and tool storage, a community compost point, and residents carpool.
Unfortunately, YorSpace were unsuccessful in their campaign to convince City of York Council to sell them Oliver House. However, the group are conducting positive discussions with council officers and are hopeful of securing an alternative site to deliver York’s first Co-housing community. Native continue to support the group and look forward to helping them with the design and delivery of their project. For more information about YorSpace Community Housing, please visit www.yorspace.org.