Church Development Agency

The Church Development Agency (CDA) assists dioceses in identifying and managing housing projects, by providing the capacity, confidence, and competence they need to act missionally and meet a high professional standard.

The CDA brings a deep knowledge of social housing development, Church institutions and ecclesiastical property law. By having clear Church links, CDA can reassure PCCs and dioceses that they are working with a consultancy practice and development partner who knows and understands the sensitivities of building on church sites.

The CDA is the key delivery partner for the Church Housing Association (CHA) and will give the CHA first refusal on the affordable housing element of their schemes, where appropriate.

Growing out of Gloucester diocese’s successful development company, the CDA has embarked on a three-year pilot programme around the West Midlands, mainly funded by the Oak Foundation. The pilot has three key objectives:

  • To deliver more and better social housing that is truly affordable, utilising the land and resources of Birmingham diocese, and the wider Church of England where appropriate

  • To ensure that genuine communities are created and supported appropriately by the Church and/or its partner agencies in perpetuity

  • To demonstrate the viability of this model in the West Midlands so that it can be applied more widely in the Church of England

The CDA started working on 14 projects last year across Birmingham and Gloucester dioceses. This has grown to 30 projects in 9 months with a pipeline over 900 homes. The CDA has started work with Bristol, Lichfield, Derby and Truro dioceses over further social housing schemes.

Contact details: Daniel Mayes - danielm@churchdevelopmentagency.co.uk

Church Development Agency News

News
Church Housing online event to showcase two new initiatives
Church Housing online event to showcase two new initiatives

Two new initiatives within the Church of England's housing 'ecosystem' have got under way in recent weeks, which in the years ahead will lead to the provision of hundreds of homes and community support around the country. We will be showcasing these two startups in our termly Church Housing online event, on 19th May at 6pm.

AC Housing Project Team comes together for the first time
AC Housing Project Team comes together for the first time

The final member of the team delivering the Archbishops’ Council Housing Project joined the project this month. Nathan Conway is the new Mapping and Grants Officer, and he will work alongside Project Manager Beki Winter and Executive Assistant Tash Jesson.

Housing for highest need from the Church of England
Housing for highest need from the Church of England

The Church of England Birmingham has long been present in the most deprived parts of the city through local parish congregations and church-linked community projects. But now the new Church Development Agency (CDA) and Church Housing Association (CHA), set up in response to  the ‘Coming Home’ report, are available to work in partnership with these groups to deliver more and better housing where it is needed most.