A radical solution.

Our philosophy is based on that one word – Inclusion. Our aim is to create a radical approach to living, by building what will be a truly inclusive, genuinely affordable, vibrant, sustainable, not for profit, multi-generational community, for residents (approx 30%) with and (approx 70%) without support needs - in the heart of London.  An environment where residents of all abilities, families, singles, young and old, can intentionally live, grow, thrive and support each other - together.

The 70% are not responsible for the needs of the 30% but they will have intentionally chosen (and ‘signed up’) to live in a community where they know and respect that a minority of their neighbours need some support. They will not ‘look after’ these neighbours, but they will ‘look out for’ them.

We will bring people together, not set them apart.

How it could look.

The community will have at least one live-in, on-site member of staff, properly trained and properly paid (with consideration for the importance of the role), by Satsuma Neighbour (we are in the process of registering as a CIC). A ‘caretaker/warden’ or ‘house-sister/brother’ type of role. A consistent, familiar, constant and trustworthy figure who can be turned to for practical support.

‘Mate crime’ is not much talked about, but is depressingly and distressingly commonplace within this group of people. Our on-site member of staff will also be the eyes and ears for the comings and goings within this community.

Not every resident will be ‘sociable’, but that certainly does not translate into them not wishing to be considered or thought about as a valued member of their community. Having a known, familiar and trusted person there to run uncertainties past, is an absolute essential element of feeling safe and included in this community and a very important part of safeguarding.

Those needing further care and support would bring that in themselves via their care package, perhaps freeing them up from ‘care’ that is local authority provided, badly paid, mostly un-trained, or ‘attached’ to housing.

The community would comprise of fully self contained 1-3 bedroom homes, all on genuinely affordable rents, with ground level, publicly accessible, community spaces offering an ongoing vibrant timetable of community activities (for both residents and the wider community) with the potential opportunity of employment for residents.

30% of the apartments will be for people who have some support needs, while the remaining 70% will be genuinely affordable homes for families, individuals, young and old (because not every older person wants to live with other older people in a retirement community), who intentionally choose to live in such a community. These percentages are approximate but simply reflect wider society.

At the design stage, particular thought and input will be given to creating homes that keep the stresses of sensory sensitivities to a minimum. Proper consideration to tackle sensitivities to lighting and sound, for example.

This community would be close to transport links to make full use of what the city has to offer. Gardens/green space would be an integral part of the design of the development - outdoor space for socialising, gardening, growing food, for use in a possible on-site café, where some residents might enjoy a shared hot meal together and which could also provide employment.

Satsuma Neighbour will be a community that promotes independence for a group of individuals hitherto shut out/segregated from mainstream society.

We have found only one community that is closely alligned with our thinking. It opened in 2020, in Rockville, Maryland, USA – ‘Main Street Connect’ . One of our working group has already visited it.

How it might work.

We are looking to work with investment partners and those with experience within the sectors of building housing and building communities, who respect and share our vision and are excited to create something new and exciting and desperately needed nationwide. Satsuma Neighbour communities could and should be rolled out across the country. There are thousands and thousands of individuals and families across the country for whom this issue is upper most in their minds and who are desperately searching for a fresh way of thinking. Not to mention individuals without support needs, who know they will never own their own home and are struggling to pay extortionate rent and who just want to live a life where they feel part of something.

Our proposed community would comprise of only rentable apartments, so the homes will never become a commodity in private ownership, which is when communities begin to fracture.

Rents would be fixed affordable rents or perhaps based on the actual cost of the build (Danish model). The aim here is not to make a profit but to be sustainable and create a flourishing community. We have looked into other housing models that could be adapted for Satsuma Neighbour, such as the Almshouse model, typically only set up for older residents, but could well work for us.

Upon completion, income from public timetable of events within the community space would help aid community running costs. We are in early days, but strongly believe that there is a way to create something new, with new thinking and an aspiration for something so much better and so much more sustainable than already exists.