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[3] Segal co-op lessons: sweat equity without burnout
Map data: Google - Image: Landsat / Copernicus

Location

  • South East England

Build Start

  • 1996

Architect

  • Walter Segal

Total Floor Area

  • 840 m²
  • [Source: EPC ]
The cooperative build in Brighton showed an impressive display of collaboration, as friends and families joined forces to construct their dream homes and escaping social housing.  With unconventional build methods and a focus on sustainability, it served as a remarkable example of communal self-building, inspiring in its shared vision and determination.

Site Purchase Price

  • £ 243900

Site Area

  • 3593m²

Site Cost Per m²

  • £ 68

Initial Budget

  • £ 276700

Total Spend

  • £ 252300

Budget Overspend

  • -8.82%

Cost Per m²

  • £ 300

Site Coverage

  • 31.2%

Plot Ratio

  • 23.38%
All Figures Indexed To
  • 02 May 2025

Construction Type

  • Segal Method, Timber Frame

Materials

  • Douglas Fir, Larch, Oak

Features

  • Accessible Build Philosophy, Balcony, Cheap Construction, Communal Land, Easy Construction, Eco-Friendly, Outdoor Living Space, Views

The cooperative build in Brighton showed an impressive display of collaboration, as friends and families joined forces to construct their dream homes and escaping social housing.  With unconventional build methods and a focus on sustainability, it served as a remarkable example of communal self-building, inspiring in its shared vision and determination.

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Acknowledgment:

This is a non-commercial review carried out for the purposes of study in developing an understanding of the requirements of self-build in the UK.

The views and opinions expressed are my own and is not affiliated in any way with Grand Designs or Channel 4.  All information on this page has been gathered from publicly available sources.

The plot/site information was located using Land Registry and The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities Data which contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

The lessons learned are derived from my interpretations and observations of a publicly disseminated case study and are in no way meant to be a substitute to the original.

Click here to view the original case study on the Channel 4 website.

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