CHA news round-up: The latest updates from the past year
It’s been a busy year for Church Housing Association, with plenty happening across our projects and partnerships.
We’ve shared regular updates on LinkedIn throughout the year, but here is a round-up that brings together the highlights in one place.
CHA opens its first homes at Innsworth
One of the most significant milestones for CHA came in April, with the official opening of its first housing scheme: seven affordable homes at Innsworth, Gloucestershire.
All seven homes are let at or below Local Housing Allowance (LHA) levels, helping to keep rents genuinely affordable for the families who live there, rather than using the higher level of up to 80% of market rent commonly associated with affordable rent.
The scheme was funded through a loan from the
Gloucester Diocesan Board of Finance. The homes were developed by Taylor Wimpey in partnership with Bromford and Flagship LiveWest, and are managed by Bromford on behalf of CHA.
The opening marked an important milestone for CHA as its first homes since becoming a registered provider of social housing, and represents an early step in putting the vision of the Coming Home report into practice.
A tenant of one of the properties said: “It has truly been life-changing for our family. For many years, we lived in a very small space, and it was not easy, especially for the children. Now, we have a home where my four children each have their own space to sleep, grow and feel comfortable. It has made such a difference to our daily lives.”
Progress at Newbigin House Gardens
CHA has also taken the next step towards delivering new homes through church land, with a planning application submitted for 17 new homes at Newbigin House Gardens.
The scheme is being brought forward in partnership with the Church Development Agency (CDA) and represents CHA’s first land-led project. The proposals
aim to respond to local housing need while creating high-quality homes and a strong sense of community.
The project demonstrates the potential of church land to contribute to the delivery of much-needed affordable housing, while also building on an existing community network.
Jon Sawyer, Chair of the CDA and Board Member of the CHA, said: “This is a significant step in showing how church land can support the delivery of much needed homes… We’re still at an early stage. But getting important schemes like this moving is critical. We need to demonstrate delivery and show what’s possible.”
On 18 August, the proposed development was featured in The Times in an article highlighting the need for affordable housing in Winson Green, Birmingham, and the plans to bring church land forward for 17 social rent homes. The article also highlighted the established community already doing important work in the area. Read The Times article →
Strengthening our partnership with CDA
This year has also seen CHA and CDA strengthen their partnership, with the two organisations coming together to discuss shared priorities, current projects and opportunities for future collaboration.
The partnership was formally strengthened through a Joint Framework Agreement, setting out how CHA and CDA will work together on future projects.
Continuing the Coming Home vision
CHA continues to be part of the wider Church Housing initiative, which has grown significantly since the publication of the Coming Home report.
A new film premiered at the Church of England’s General Synod in August to mark five years since The Coming Home report was published. It highlights how the vision set out in the report is being translated into practical projects and showing the difference that secure homes can make to people's lives.
CHA Project Director Aileen Evans spoke about the important role the Church can play in responding to the housing crisis:
“The Church has a really important role to play in this work. It has land assets, it has great stakes in local communities. Home is where we start from and if we have a good home, it's the foundations of a good life.”
CHA Chair, the Right Revd Dr David Walker, also reflected on the progress made since the publication of Coming Home and the establishment of CHA:
“Since the Coming Home report has been first released, we have seen a number of housing associations wanting to engage with the underpinning rhetoric of the document, the core values they feel are important with all housing, whether it’s owned by a church-based body or any other landlord... The CHA has our first seven homes. The next stage is how we build it up to 70, then maybe 700 in due course.”
The film offers a glimpse of what has already been achieved, and of what might be possible in the years ahead.
Watch the full video:
Looking forward
Looking forward, CHA is now building on the foundations established through its first homes at Innsworth. The ambition is to grow the number of genuinely affordable homes it provides, while continuing to work with the Church Development Agency, dioceses and other partners to explore opportunities for new housing.
This could include bringing forward new homes on church land, acquiring affordable homes and exploring opportunities to make better use of existing properties. As CHA grows, the focus will remain on creating homes that align with the 5S values and contribute to the wider vision set out in the Coming Home report.
Find out more about the Coming Home report →