local authority:   Canterbury City Council

PineTree Housing Co-operative is a small estate of 25 properties in the popular Forty Acres area of Canterbury, just ten minutes walk from the town centre. All properties are family sized, there are 24 two and three bed houses and a wheelchair adapted family bungalow. The estate is open plan and has a cul de sac which includes a communal wild garden area and has a small council owned playing field adjacent to it.

The estate was built by CDS Co-operatives in 1995, ownership was transferred to them in 1996 and the Co-operative became fully independent and signed a management agreement with CDS in 1998. The committee now meet regularly and take responsibility for the maintenance and lettings functions within the Co-operative.

All properties have double glazing and central heating. There are private back gardens and open plan front gardens with either driveways or allocated parking spaces. As well as the bungalow, one house has been adapted to include a stair lift and level access shower. The service charge covers the communal area gardening.

Canterbury West station is a short walk away and there are local buses to the town centre and surrounding villages and on to the coast at Whitstable. All amenities within Canterbury, such as the leisure centre, hospital, library, council offices and courts, are easily reached and there are a number of playgroups, primary schools and secondary schools to choose from.

Pine Tree Housing Co-operative has contractual tenancies, after internal transfers, 100% of vacancies are given to Canterbury Council for nominations from their housing register.

The Co-operative committee organises and funds a trip for the children on the estate every year; these have included trips to the pantomime and to a local water park.