Welcoming Kelly Hillman to the CDA board

The Church Development Agency (CDA) is delighted to welcome Kelly Hillman as a new member of its Board.

Kelly brings extensive experience from across the housing sector, including her current role at Vistry Group, one of the UK’s largest housebuilders.

“I believe the CDA offers a distinctive contribution to housing. They are bringing new housing that is focused on creating a sense of community and belonging for the people living there. It does not have to be all about size – if we are building a thousand homes, bringing the CDA in to deliver 50 adds real value,” Kelly said.

Kelly started her career working in some of the most deprived wards in the country, ensuring that local voices were heard in decisions on placemaking.

She went on to hold senior roles in both the public and private sector, working for local authorities and Homes England, where her responsibilities involved bringing forward land for housing with a clear public purpose.

At Vistry, Kelly is focused on delivering mixed tenure new homes, including much needed additional affordable homes. She also is passionate about new homes delivering social value and long-term stewardship:

She said: “For too long, development has been about the industry building it and then leaving it. Stewardship asks: are we building the right thing? Are we building it in the right way? What are we leaving behind for future generations?

“I always say, stewardship is from the first twinkling of the eye of when someone is thinking that a new home is going to be built, right up to 25 years afterwards.”

As a Board Member for the CDA, she will help turn the CDA’s consultancy and development plans into delivery.

“If you don’t start getting homes built, a vision stays in a drawer. I am going to help provide governance and oversight for the CDA team and support their work,” she said.

Her relationship with the CDA began before the Coming Home report was released, through early discussions about redeveloping church sites for housing.

“It was about making places where building homes benefits the people around them, and leveraging church assets to do that,” she said.

We are really looking forward to working with Kelly as we build homes that create strong communities and lasting impact.