Under the “Vivarium” scheme — there are already successful similar examples in Denmark and Holland — people will live in and run their own houses, enjoy mutual support and remain responsible for their own lives.

One of the people behind the project, Anne Pattullo of Falkland, said today Vivarium is still in the very early stages of planning, but envisages itself as being a ‘not for profit’ charity.

She said the plan at this stage is to build perhaps 10 to 15 individual houses/flats/units alongside a town or village in N.E. Fife.

Each unit, she said, would be completely self-contained and would be built using the most modern, sustainable, and environmentally friendly products available.

“These will be ‘low impact’ dwellings which will offer a sustainable way of low-cost living for older people.

“Vivarium will build a communal kitchen/dining area, shared laundry facility, an art room/workshop space, a small office area and perhaps an Internet cafe and small shop.

“People who choose to live in this community will be encouraged to eat communally perhaps 3 to 4 times a week thus enabling the group to share resources and offer mutual support.

“We also see having a garden as a prerequisite to this project”

Ms Pattullo. said another benefit of such a project is that very often people (increasingly single older people) are living in houses unnecessarily large.

By choosing to live in a co-housing situation these houses are thus freed up for families to live in.

She said decisions concerning the project would be taken as a group, both during the actual setting-up stage and through the construction phase of the complex.

“The co-housing model is very different to sheltered housing where individuals live separately and any sense of community is left to chance with an often anonymous, social landlord in charge.”