The 5S Design Guide for Affordable Church Housing

The Church Development Agency is proud to introduce the new 5S Design Guide for Affordable Church Housing - a resource created to spark meaningful conversations among design teams, dioceses, parishes, and all those involved in church-led housing development.

This guide is intentionally aspirational rather than prescriptive: it sets out a vision for what church housing can achieve, without imposing rigid requirements. Our aim is to encourage ambition, creativity, and collaboration, supporting stakeholders to deliver homes that are not only affordable but also stable, sustainable, safe, sociable, and satisfying – reflecting the five core values from the Church’s “Coming Home” report.

Recognising the evolving nature of best practice and standards, this guide will be reviewed and updated at least every 12 months to ensure it remains relevant and forward-looking.

 Developed collaboratively by the Church Development Agency, Church Housing Association, and Faith & Public Life teams, this guide translates the 5S values Stable, Sustainable, Safe, Sociable, and Satisfying into practical considerations for affordable housing schemes. It draws on expertise in development, housing design, and community engagement, and is intended as a living resource for dioceses, parishes, developers, architects, and housing providers.

By aligning with these values, we hope to inspire the creation of homes and communities where people can truly flourish – places that are not just houses, but homes where residents feel a sense of belonging and pride.

Looking ahead, it is hoped that a dedicated community stewardship and ‘in use’ guidance document will be produced to sit alongside this 5S policy. This future resource will provide practical advice and support for those responsible for the ongoing management and nurturing of church-led housing schemes, ensuring that the principles of stewardship and active community engagement are embedded throughout the life of each development.

A heartfelt thank you to Eddie Hughes for leading this work, and to all contributors: Jonathan Tame - Advisor on Housing and Community, Ed Perry - Freedto, Naomi Fisher – APEC Architect, Archdeacon Jenny Tomlinson – CDA Director/Birmingham DBF, Alice Latham – Birmingham DBF, Fred Rattley – BDBF/Thrive, Jo Bagby – Thrive, Nick Pollock – CHA Board Member, Beki Winter – Faith & Public Life Team, Archbishop’s Council, Nathan Conway – Faith & Public Life Team, Archbishop’s Council, Keenan Staple – Affordable Housing, Birmingham City Council, Eddie Hughes – CDA, Alan Fraser – CDA, Dan Mayes – CDA