New housing developments
The Church has a distinctive and vital role to play in planning for new housing developments, welcoming new residents, building communities and reaching out to new people with the Gospel message.
In all parts of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Barnet and Luton, church communities can have a voice in identifying local housing needs and working to ensure that planned developments provide good places to live, with the right infrastructure, schools and meeting places.
Once new homes are built, churches can be places of welcome and outreach to existing and new residents, helping to create a sense of community and developing a Christian presence.
The Diocese of St Albans has a planning group which monitors proposals for large-scale housing developments around the diocese and provides input to the Bishop’s Council about the need to plan for additional resources.
The planning group, in association with the Diocesan Reaching New People Project, hosted a Workshop for Parishes in 2022. There is now a Diocesan New Housing Hub which brings together clergy and lay people with a provision for engagement with people living in new housing communities.
Links:
St Albans Diocese New Housing Hub
Fresh Expressions
Local Plan Updates
- East Hertfordshire District Plan 2011-2033
- St Albans Local Plan 2020-2038
- Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2015-2035
