Church of England to Build 2,000 Homes to Address Housing Crisis

Church of England’s Ambitious Plan to Alleviate Housing Shortage

In an effort to address the housing shortage in Britain, the Church of England has unveiled plans to construct nearly 2,000 new homes through an initiative known as the Archbishop’s Council Housing Project.

Launched in 2024, this project seeks to leverage surplus land and properties owned by churches to develop housing solutions, thereby setting a precedent in tackling the housing crisis.

Central to the initiative is a dedicated team comprising an architect, a community housing expert, a town planner, and a church buildings officer. This team travels across the nation, offering guidance and support to parishes interested in joining the project.

Financial backing is also a significant component of the project. To date, advice and support have been extended to 85 parishes, with £1.2 million in grants distributed to 54 projects nationwide.

While many of these projects are still in their infancy, focusing on viability studies and planning applications, they show promise for substantial progress.

The Church Development Agency, the property development sector of the Church of England, plays a crucial role as well. Currently, 42 churches across 10 dioceses benefit from the agency’s technical expertise, and 15 of these have received grants through the new initiative.

With approval, the agency could facilitate the construction of over 1,000 affordable homes, a figure that could almost double to 1,952 when including proposals from the new project and the Church Housing Association.

The initiative stems from a 2021 report by the Archbishops’ Commission on Housing, Church and Community, which urged the Church to take a leadership role in creating affordable housing on its lands.

Bishop of Chelmsford, Guli Francis-Dehqani, highlighted the broader impact of these projects, stating, “Housing projects can have a catalytic effect on participating churches; not only do they provide much-needed homes, they also provide missional opportunities and strengthen the church’s reputation in the community.”

She added, “They can unlock resources for ministry through a capital sum or income stream. We are starting to realise the huge potential for housing projects to sustain and even grow our local churches.”