LONDON (Parliament Politics Magazine) – There are approximately 45,000 co-ops in the UK. Although they are a relatively new model, they have grown rapidly in the past few years and many of the current co-ops are in various stages of development. The majority of co-ops are community-led and are operated by members of the public. Many of these co-ops are designed to provide a low-cost alternative to private renting.
The movement started in Liverpool, which has experienced a period of extreme urban-economic restructuring. The city suffered from industrial decline, population decline, and capital flight. Public housing in Liverpool was notoriously poor and prompted tenants to campaign for co-ops. As a result, poor quality public housing was transferred to more effective housing associations. However, this meant that new problems arose in the housing sector. The City of Liverpool’s Council sought to secure more government funding and set up the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder scheme. This move enabled the development of a large number of affordable and social housing schemes.
The co-ops in Liverpool reflect the unique historical-cultural context of the city. While many co-housing initiatives have more communal spaces, Liverpool co-ops were more focused on private homes. They often included a communal centre, playground, and regular management meetings. In addition, the co-ops were often self-procuring and met strict design standards.
Number of members
In London, there are over 300 housing co-ops. Some of these are part of the London Federation of Housing Co-Ops and others are members of the Confederation of Co-operative Housing. One of these is the Sanford Housing Co-op, which was the first purpose-built housing co-op in the UK and has over 130 members. Members pay a monthly fee that covers everything from council tax to the internet.
Number of shops
Your neighborhood Co-Op has a wide selection of fresh, organic groceries and farm-fresh produce. The co-op also features a grocery market with bulk produce and bulk items. You can save money and support local businesses by shopping at your local Co-Op.
The Co-Op is a chain of supermarkets and convenience stores. Each store is owned by a group of independent co-operative societies. Most of these societies have adopted the Co-op brand in recent years. These societies are listed below, along with their number of shops.
Locations
If you’re looking for a fresh, local food in London, you can visit a Co-operative store. There are a number of locations around the city, including buying groups, community farms, co-ops selling organic products, and worker co-op cafes. For example, there is a community food project in the Lea Valley, north-east London, run by a workers’ co-operative called Organiclea.