Bridport Cohousing has been used at a case study in a guide to inspire partnerships between housing associations and community led housing groups.

The group behind the development of 53 affordable homes near Bridport Community Hospital and its partner housing association, Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (BCHA), is highlighted in Community Led Homes' Practical guide to partnerships between housing associations and community led housing organisations.

It is used as a successful example of partnerships in which others looking to do the same can "learn, expand and innovate".

However, it does wrongly state where funding for the development's common house is coming from.

A spokesman for Bridport Cohousing said: "We are really pleased to be included but they are saying that the housing association we are working with is funding half of the cost of the common house, and this is not correct - Bridport Cohousing is funding the whole build and equipment cost.

"The last time we raised money was two years ago in order to buy phase 2 of the land and we had a spectacular response from the community and raised the full amount in a few weeks over Christmas 2018. These loans are due to be paid back soon and we will be raising a fresh loan offer on an ethical investment platform called Ethex.

"A cohousing neighbourhood has a common house at the heart of its design and this building will also provide a beautiful new venue available for the town to rent for all sorts of workshops and classes."

Samantha Jones, Head of the Community Led Homes Partnership, said: "Community led housing projects allow communities to take the driver's seat in shaping their own housing futures. Community led housing organisations and housing associations can work together to form successful partnerships that have produced and are producing high quality, permanently affordable, community led housing.

"The case study of Bridport Cohousing CLT was chosen for our partnership guide because it is a fantastic example of a group combining its community ties and access to land with the expertise of a housing association to deliver much-needed homes."

This follows the news that construction of 53 affordable eco-homes is well on the way to start and the homes are due to be completed in early summer 2022.

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