Context
The question follows from an initial inquiry about steps the Church is taking to support housing development on former church sites. Eastbourne has declared a housing emergency.
Question
What steps the Church is taking to support the development of housing on derelict former church sites. I welcome the hon. Lady to her place. Eastbourne declared a housing emergency last year, and the key thing we need to do to address that emergency is build our way out of it. The commissioners preside over a perfect brownfield site for housing: the site of the former St Elisabeth's church on Victoria Drive, just down the road from where I went to school. It has been derelict for 20 years, and since the church on the site was demolished four years ago, there has been no sign of development whatsoever.
Answer from Marsha de Cordova
Since 2022, the Church Commissioners have been working with the diocese of Chichester to market the site and find a developer. A developer is in the process of agreeing to a conditional contract for a mixed-use development that will include convenience retail and housing, some of which will be much-needed affordable housing. The development will need planning permission, and that is being explored with the local authority now.
Was this summary accurate? Tell us
How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)