Context
The country is facing a significant need for more housing, including affordable options. The Church Commissioners own substantial amounts of land.
Question
Given the country's need for more housing, including more social housing, are the Church Commissioners able to take into account social and community outcomes in their land development decisions, and not just maximising financial profit?
Answer from Andrew Selous (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I thank my hon. Friend for that question, and I can tell her that the Church of England pensions board already supports the social housing market through investments in social housing bonds. The commissioners also make provision for social and affordable housing on housing developments as per local planning requirements, while being required, like all charities, to obtain best value reasonably obtainable in the market when disposing of assets. But I am keen to explore whether the Church Commissioners are able to play any further role in solving the nation's housing crisis. The Archbishop of Canterbury's housing commission, which the Bishop of Kensington co-chairs, is looking separately at wider housing policy, and I am engaging closely with that work.
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