University of Glasgow law students build tiny homes to help tackle the UK’s housing crisis

University of Glasgow law students are building tiny homes to help tackle the UK’s housing crisis.

In a groundbreaking initiative, over 30 students from Russell Group universities, including the University of Glasgow, Sheffield School of Architecture, and Barts and The London Medical School, are collaborating with the social enterprise Homefolk to address the crisis.

Since October, these students have been working on developing affordable and sustainable tiny home villages in urban areas, aiming to provide a viable alternative to the traditional housing market.

Transforming urban spaces

Founded by Dr. Adam Mitchell, a graduate of Barts, Homefolk seeks to convert underutilised urban “greyfield” sites into eco-friendly tiny home communities. This innovative approach could potentially deliver tens of thousands of affordable homes in prime city locations, addressing the pressing issue of housing affordability, particularly for young adults.

Dr. Mitchell emphasises the urgency of this initiative, noting: “One in three people aged 20-35 in the UK may never own a home.” The struggle faced by students with soaring rents have forced many to live with their parents well into their 20s and 30s, making the need for affordable housing more critical than ever.

An interdisciplinary collaboration

This unique partnership involves students from diverse disciplines, including architecture and medicine, who will receive guidance from renowned experts such as Sheffield’s award-winning architect Sam Brown and QMUL’s respiratory doctor and clean air campaigner Dr. Anna Moore. Additionally, law students from the University of Glasgow will provide essential compliance and finance support, making this project a comprehensive interdisciplinary effort to tackle the housing crisis from multiple perspectives.

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Sam Brown, head of the Live Projects program at Sheffield, commended Homefolk as “a remarkable, urgent alternative to London’s prevailing housing options.” He emphasised that this collaboration not only encourages innovation among students but also gives them the opportunity to contribute to a real-world solution that could influence housing policy nationwide.

Affordable living redefined

The tiny home village model envisions a community-oriented living environment where each resident owns their home while sharing communal facilities. Each unit is designed to exceed London’s space standards, with an estimated cost of around £50,000 per resident—comparable to renting a one-bedroom apartment in London for four years.

Looking ahead: A pilot project in London

With plans to launch a pilot project in London, Homefolk and the participating universities are actively engaging local authorities and policymakers to bring this pioneering concept to fruition. The goal is to offer affordable housing options for students, young professionals, and single adults seeking an eco-friendly alternative to expensive urban living.

This collaboration marks a significant step forward in addressing the UK housing crisis, leveraging the creativity and expertise of students and faculty to develop sustainable living solutions for the future.

For those interested in supporting or participating in this initiative as future residents or local authorities seeking innovative housing solutions, more information is available here.

Featured image via Homefolk