'We moved in with 17 strangers so we wouldn't be lonely'

Article excerpt

As loneliness and housing costs squeeze Britain's middle class, a growing number of people are abandoning the detached-home dream for co-housing, shared residential spaces where unrelated adults pool resources and intentionally build community. The model, which clusters private apartments around common kitchens and dining areas, promises both affordability and connection: residents split maintenance costs and share meals, reducing isolation while cutting individual rents. Co-housing projects, once niche, are now spreading across England as developers and councils recognize the appeal to aging populations, young professionals, and anyone tired of paying premium prices to live alone. The shift reflects a quiet rejection of suburban isolation, trading privacy's premium for belonging.