The Church could use its vast landholdings to transform the construction industry for the better as well as helping ease the housing crisis, the chair of the C of E’s housing commission told Building Design.

By taking a long-term view of its assets and requiring development partners including architects and contractors to sign up to the five values in the commission’s report, it could become a much more influential player in housing development, said Charlie Arbuthnot. The specialist in social housing financing led the Commission on Housing, Church and Community whose report, Coming Home, was launched last month.

It sets out a vision of housing that is sustainable, safe, stable, sociable and satisfying – and includes a series of detailed recommendations for government and society as well as for the Church itself.

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