Beyond the White Picket Fence: Exploring Intergenerational Communal Housing

Savannah's research, Beyond the White Picket Fence: A companion for intergenerational communal housing, explores how intentionally designed communities are tackling some of our most pressing social challenges, from loneliness and housing insecurity to poor health and polarisation. 

Why Intergenerational Communal Living Matters Now

The UK - much like the US and Australia, where Savannah’s research draws inspiration from - are increasingly fragmented. We face crises of loneliness, unaffordable housing, and overstretched public services, alongside deepening generational divides. How our houses and neighbourhoods have been designed often reinforce this isolation. Intergenerational communal living offers a powerful antidote, nurturing relationships, building organic support nets and enabling a more socially and environmentally sustainable way of life. 

The companion includes:

• Key benefits these models can bring to individuals and ripple effects on broader society.
• A broad range of case studies including affordability mechanisms and powerful personal stories.
• An introduction to the concept of neighbourisms: informal, every day acts of care, support and interest that knit communities together and build resilience.
• 10 opportunity areas for the UK, inspired and endorsed by experts across health and care, housing, ageing and intergenerational practice.

Looking ahead 

The report outlines 10 key opportunity areas for the UK, including integrating intergenerational design into housing policy, investing in community-led pilot projects, tackling systemic regulatory barriers, and shifting cultural narratives which present nuclear family home ownership as the only viable way of living. Savannah has been advocating for these shifts, for instance through giving evidence at the ongoing parliamentary enquiry of the APPG on Creating Intergenerational Communities, and will continue to do so. 

We invite you to delve deeper into Savannah's findings, case studies, and practical recommendations at thinkitforward.net.