Loan finance secured as family and friends work together to establish sustainable living housing co-op
A group of family and friends have come together to purchase a property and create an intergenerational housing co-op built on environmental sustainability and co-operative values.
In 2024, husband and wife Graham Turner and Kyra Pollitt set up Big Step Housing Co-operative alongside daughter Edie, her partner Spring and their friends Caitlin and Dan. The plan was to purchase a property that would provide environmentally sustainable living and a redistribution of wealth with governance and stewardship based on co-operative values and principles.
Co-op Loan Fund and Co-operative & Community Finance were delighted to work together in providing a loan finance package (alongside loan stock investment from members and supporters) to help enable the purchase of a suitable property north of Glasgow on the edge of the beautiful Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park countryside.
The property, named ‘Back Borland’, situated by the historical and picturesque village of Gartmore (approximately 18 miles from Stirling), is over 150 years old and had been comprehensively converted and renovated to a high standard by previous owners in 2005.
The housing co-op is recruiting further members to take up residency within the property and has a vision of adding extra accommodation on the site, growing a community ‘food forest’, holding workshops and offering respite facilities, as well as improving energy efficiency measures.
The ultimate aim is to provide a space where wealth, skills, and resources can be redistributed throughout the community created, both within and beyond the property.
Edie Turner, founding member of Big Step Housing Co-op, said: “We’re thrilled to finally have bricks-and-mortar for our housing co-op. We worked hard creating a financial model to reflect our principle of redistributing wealth from individuals to create an affordable, sustainable, intergenerational community – current members are from 0-61 years old. At a time when secure, good quality housing is unfairly inaccessible to too many in society, we believe that our model offers a radical but viable alternative that others could adopt, and we are immensely grateful for CCF’s support for that vision. Now, our real work begins to turn our new home into a lively hub for people, permaculture and community resources!”
Kevin Lloyd-Evans, Lending and Relationship Manager at Co-operative & Community Finance and Co-op Loan Fund said: “We’re proud to support Big Step Housing Co-op’s bold vision for sustainable, intergenerational living. This project exemplifies how co-operative finance can unlock community-led housing solutions that redistribute wealth and embed environmental values. It’s a powerful model – and we’re excited to see it grow, inspire, and deliver lasting impact.”
Housing co-ops offer an excellent opportunity to meet the affordable housing need in the UK. However, the sector is massively under resourced. Supporting housing co-ops and proving the model works is vitality important to Co-op Loan Fund and your right to fair and affordable housing. Find out about our loans to the housing co-op sector by visiting our website.
