The Church of England is planning to create almost 2,000 affordable homes on land earmarked from church sites.

The Archbishop’s Council Housing Project which was set up in 2024 aims to help churches find ways of developing pockets of surplus land or redeveloping existing properties such as church halls. So far, the project team, which includes an architect, a community housing specialist, a town planner and a Church buildings officer, has provided advice and support to around 85 parishes.

There are currently 42 church sites across 10 dioceses which are receiving support from the Church Development Agency. Most of its budget is distributed through a grants programme, with more than £1.2 million already awarded.

The projects currently with the Agency could create more than 1,000 new affordable homes, but this increases to 1,952 when taking into account proposals being given support by other Church housing organisations and dioceses.

The Church Housing Association was approved last year as a registered provider of social housing and it’s currently raising money to buy 70 ‘section 106’ homes – properties built by a developer as part of an agreement with a local authority to provide affordable housing or community benefit.

A planning application has also been submitted for Winson Green in Birmingham for 17 affordable homes on a former vicarage site.

The Bishop of Chelmsford Rt Rev Guli Francis-Dehqani said: “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.

“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."