Strong population growth, a shortage of affordable housing and carbon reduction targets are forcing local authorities in parts of rural France to rethink how they can boost housing supply and reduce emissions. Hameaux Légers – or Lightweight Hamlets – is a new and environmentally friendly way to create affordable housing aimed at households who have an income typically below the social housing threshold.
With extensive community participation, each hamlet is created on public land through a partnership between the local municipality and future residents. Together, they design small communities made up of individual homes, shared spaces and a community building. Residents take an active role in designing, funding and helping to build their own homes, which keeps the process simple, fast, affordable and community led.
Hameaux Légers use no concrete, sit lightly on the land and are made from natural, local and recyclable materials. Their design reduces carbon emissions, limits waste and helps protect local ecosystems. Because the homes are mobile or demountable, they leave almost no long-term footprint on the environment.
High energy performance also means residents live in warm, efficient homes that emit two to three times less emissions than a standard new house.
With long-term leases from local authorities, the new residents boost the circular economy and bring much needed sustainability practices to the local population.
As an association ‘Hameaux Légers’ disseminates the model through face-to-face training and a further 32 hamlets are soon to be created as they continue to advocate for it to become part of France’s national housing strategy.
