How churches can shape the UK’s social housing future

Kilo Architects

Unlocking Hidden Value


As the housing crisis deepens, a powerful yet often overlooked opportunity lies in partnering with the nation’s churches. With deep roots in their communities, access to underused land and a mission grounded in service and compassion, churches are uniquely positioned to help reimagine social housing, not only as shelter for those in need but as a foundation for community regeneration.

From Sacred Ground to Shared Social Space


Churches are embedded in the social fabric of every town and city. Their buildings often sit at the heart of communities and their leadership is trusted, visible, and mission-driven. By unlocking underused land and premises, churches can become key players in delivering affordable housing, especially when supported by partners who understand both the spiritual and practical dimensions of development.

Unlocking Hidden Value


As the housing crisis deepens, a powerful yet often overlooked opportunity lies in partnering with the nation’s churches. With deep roots in their communities, access to underused land and a mission grounded in service and compassion, churches are uniquely positioned to help reimagine social housing, not only as shelter for those in need but as a foundation for community regeneration.

From Sacred Ground to Shared Social Space


Churches are embedded in the social fabric of every town and city. Their buildings often sit at the heart of communities and their leadership is trusted, visible, and mission-driven. By unlocking underused land and premises, churches can become key players in delivering affordable housing, especially when supported by partners who understand both the spiritual and practical dimensions of development.

The Bear, Deptford:   Faith in Action


At The Bear in Deptford, London, originally established as a Ragged School, church land has been reimagined into a vibrant mixed-use development:


  • 600 sqm of dedicated church and community space
  • 33 social housing units above, designed for inclusivity and accessibility


The new community integrates five floors of social housing above an active church and community space. The Bear Church continues its mission through programmes such as postnatal support, mums and tots groups, English lessons and a soup kitchen. Welcoming new residents into this network is a natural extension of its faith-led commitment to inclusion and belonging.


Projects like The Bear honour a legacy of compassion and practical care, responding to today’s crisis with the same spirit that shaped its founding.

The Bear, Deptford: Faith in Action


At The Bear in Deptford, London, originally established as a Ragged School, church land has been reimagined into a vibrant mixed-use development:


  • 600 sqm of dedicated church and community space
  • 33 social housing units above, designed for inclusivity and accessibility


The new community integrates five floors of social housing above an active church and community space. The Bear Church continues its mission through programmes such as postnatal support, mums and tots groups, English lessons and a soup kitchen. Welcoming new residents into this network is a natural extension of its faith-led commitment to inclusion and belonging.


Projects like The Bear honour a legacy of compassion and practical care, responding to today’s crisis with the same spirit that shaped its founding.

The Way Forward


Churches need a trusted pathway to turn vision into viable, fundable projects. They need:


  • Strategic partnerships
  • Planning and design expertise
  • Financial models that balance mission with viability


Equally, local councils and funders must see churches not merely as stakeholders, but as co-creators of the UK’s housing future.


At The Bear, KILO Architects supported the formation of J49, the residential provider that secured GLA grant funding and worked closely with Lewisham Council and the Greater London Authority to realise the vision.


Faith, Housing, and the Future


We continue to collaborate with churches seeking to act on their faith through social housing, creating spaces that embody the vision. We assist in:


  • Clarifying vision through community engagement
  • Preparing options studies
  • Guiding through planning processes
  • Assessing funding strategies


Our goal is to make the mission tangible: creating spaces where faith, community, and housing thrive together.

Housing with Values

This vision aligns with the recently published Housing with Values report by the Faith and Belief Policy Collective (London and Cambridge - Oct 2025), which underscores the crucial role faith communities play in shaping sustainable housing.


Professor Christopher Baker (Goldsmiths, University of London), lead author of the report, writes:


“As we embark on this next chapter of New Town building in England, it is vital to understand the contribution that faith and belief bring to the sustaining of new communities, through their vision, experience, resources, and local leadership.”


This insight affirms what we have witnessed firsthand. Faith communities, especially churches, hold not only spiritual capital but tangible assets that can be mobilised for social good.


The report rightly highlights that land, buildings, and financial resources within these communities can play a pivotal role in addressing housing needs and strengthening social infrastructure.


KILO has been walking alongside churches to reimagine their spaces, not just as places of worship, but as anchors of community and catalysts for affordable housing.


Our collaborative model brings churches, local authorities and housing grant providers into meaningful partnership, unlocking underused land for the common good. With new heritage expertise now strengthening our team, we’re ready to support more churches in turning vision into viable, fundable projects.

Faith communities, especially churches, hold not only spiritual capital but tangible assets that can be mobilised for social good.

The Way Forward


Churches need a trusted pathway to turn vision into viable, fundable projects. They need:


  • Strategic partnerships
  • Planning and design expertise
  • Financial models that balance mission with viability


Equally, local councils and funders must see churches not merely as stakeholders, but as co-creators of the UK’s housing future.


At The Bear, KILO Architects supported the formation of J49, the residential provider that secured GLA grant funding and worked closely with Lewisham Council and the Greater London Authority to realise the vision.


Faith, Housing, and the Future


We continue to collaborate with churches seeking to act on their faith through social housing, creating spaces that embody the vision. We assist in:


  • Clarifying vision through community engagement
  • Preparing options studies
  • Guiding through planning processes
  • Assessing funding strategies


Our goal is to make the mission tangible: creating spaces where faith, community, and housing thrive together.

Housing with Values

This vision aligns with the recently published Housing with Values report by the Faith and Belief Policy Collective (London and Cambridge - Oct 2025), which underscores the crucial role faith communities play in shaping sustainable housing.


Professor Christopher Baker (Goldsmiths, University of London), lead author of the report, writes:


“As we embark on this next chapter of New Town building in England, it is vital to understand the contribution that faith and belief bring to the sustaining of new communities, through their vision, experience, resources, and local leadership.”


This insight affirms what we have witnessed firsthand. Faith communities, especially churches, hold not only spiritual capital but tangible assets that can be mobilised for social good.


The report rightly highlights that land, buildings, and financial resources within these communities can play a pivotal role in addressing housing needs and strengthening social infrastructure.


KILO has been walking alongside churches to reimagine their spaces, not just as places of worship, but as anchors of community and catalysts for affordable housing.


Our collaborative model brings churches, local authorities and housing grant providers into meaningful partnership, unlocking underused land for the common good. With new heritage expertise now strengthening our team, we’re ready to support more churches in turning vision into viable, fundable projects.

Faith communities, especially churches, hold not only spiritual capital but tangible assets that can be mobilised for social good.

See this 3-minute video "A Home in the Heart of Deptford" from John M Ford and Jesse Alston

https://www.instagram.com/p/DLZZIoFownu/


Read the Cambridge report here:

https://www.interfaith.cam.ac.uk/news/new-report-housing-values


Read more about The Bear project here:

https://kiloa.co.uk/the-bear

If you're exploring how your church can respond to the housing crisis with purpose and practicality, we’d be pleased to journey with you.

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