Premier Chris Minns urged to look at church lands to solve housing crisis as map reveals best spots

Could turning to religion solve Sydney’s housing crisis? There may be salvation on the horizon with a new idea to change government planning rules. Use our interactive map to see where homes could go.

Rev Dr Matthew Wilcoxen, Ross Jones, CEO of Sydney Anglican Property and Amanda Bailey, Head of Advocacy Faith Housing Australia, at St Jones church in Darlinghurst where they built housing on the church property. Picture: Jeremy Piper

The answer to Sydney’s housing crisis could be found in divine intervention, with Premier Chris Minns urged to seek help from a higher power to build well-located, affordable homes.

With the Minns government scrambling for an alternative to building 25,000 homes at Rosehill – after the Premier’s plan to turn racing turf into high-rises was squashed, leaving his housing targets in tatters – underused church land could be the answer to Mr Minns’ prayers.

A group of faith-based organisations is now urging Planning Minister Paul Scully to change planning rules to let churches build tens of thousands of homes on their land.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that Premier Chris Minns will look at letting churches build housing developments on their land, with the Premier describing the proposal as a “good idea”.

Across NSW, Faith Housing Australia has found 747 faith-owned sites within 10 minutes walk of a train station – which could be turned into 20,000 affordable homes.

The St John's Church, Darlinghurst, owned lot next door was turned into long-term homes for older people experiencing homelessness. Picture: Damian Shaw

The organisation is calling for Planning Minister Paul Scully to allow churches to build homes on their land by relaxing zoning rules for places of worship.

Currently, homes are prohibited from being built on land zoned “SP2 – Place of Public Worship”.

Faith Housing Australia chair Rob Stokes said that could be changed with the “stroke of a pen”.

Allowing faith groups to build homes on land zoned for places of worship could add “up to 20,000 homes in some of the best located sites in Sydney and other key sites around NSW,” he said.

“Providing more opportunities for social and affordable housing, consistent with the mission of faith groups, will help address an acute community need.”

Where houses could be built on church land

Mr Stokes, a former Planning Minister, said he never looked at the idea because it was not brought to his attention when he was in charge.

In a statement, Mr Minns said thanked Mr Stokes and Faith Housing Australia for the “god idea”.

“I don’t know if it’s divine intervention or not, but I’m always interested in hearing about new ideas for more housing.

“I’m proud to say that the conversation is slowly shifting from housing not in my back yard, to now getting asked about different locations for where we can put more housing.

“That is a good thing for the future of city, and it shows me we’re heading in the right direction,” he said.

A map produced by Urban Bio - the darker the blue, the more places of worship. Picture: Supplied

One Faith Housing Australia member – Sydney Anglican Property (SAP)- has offered up 11 church sites that it wants to turn into housing.

Two of those have received federal government funding.

Development is already underway at St Paul’s Anglican Church, where 185 social and affordable houses will be built along with a preschool, shops, and a new church.

In Regents Park, a former church will be turned into 74 homes for single women over 55 and domestic violence survivors.

SAP has a further nine locations where it wants to build new homes: one in Northern Sydney, one in South Sydney, two in Western Sydney, three in South Western Sydney and two in Wollongong.

SAP CEO Ross Jones said a change in zoning rules would “dramatically” increase the amount of social and affordable homes it can build.

“We have 68 Anglican Church sites that are within 800 meters walking distance,” he said.

“At the moment, for anything that’s zoned SP2, we have to leave it just as a church, and can’t even consider social and affordable housing on it,” he said.

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Originally published as Premier Chris Minns urged to look at church lands to solve housing crisis as map reveals best spots