The community would be established as a registered cooperative, which will own the land and buildings.

The community will run a business as a separate legal entity. At this stage, it has been established as a non-profit incorporated association. In the longer term, it is envisaged that this may also become a registered cooperative in its own right.

The co-operative legal structure was chosen because its principles, supported by legislation, are most appropriate to our aims.

A co-operative is defined as an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise. Co-operatives are based on the values of self-help, self- responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. Co-operative members are expected to believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility, and caring for others.

The co-operative principles are guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice: voluntary and open membership, democratic member control, member economic participation, autonomy and independence, education and information, co-operation among co-operatives and concern for community.