Faith Facilities

In 2007 Cambridgeshire Horizons commissioned a study to identify best practice in making provision for facilities for faith groups in the major new developments, as part of the wider community facility provision in the Cambridge Sub-region. The impetus for the study was the recognised role that faith groups can play in building cohesive new communities and the difficulties they may face in securing premises or other facilities.

The study was produced by 3 Dragons in consultation with Cambridgeshire Horizons and representatives from the local authorities in Cambridgeshire and regional stakeholders. It offers planning guidance for making provision for faith in new developments and recommendations for local authorities, faith groups, developers and landowners.

It is hoped that the lessons from this study will also be valuable to other growth areas in the UK that face similar issues concerning the role of faith groups within new communities.

Standards for faith facility provision

The study advocates standard provision of land and/or buildings for faith groups in much the same way as there is provision for a range of other community facilities. It recommends that for every 3,000 houses built (with a trigger point of 2,000), 0.5 hectares of free land (or its equivalent in buildings and/or financial contribution) should be provided by developers for faith facilities. Additional discounted land should also be designated within the new developments to make it easier for faith groups to purchase land.

Free or discounted land would be available to faith groups on the basis that they provide a wide range of community activities open to all.  Eligible faith groups must also have charitable status and the resources and practical skills to bring forward the new facility within a reasonable time.

The study recommends that local authorities should work with landowners and faith groups to agree a procedure for making available free or discounted land and for the allocation of the land to individual faith groups. Where more than one faith wishes to access land (or buildings) there would need to be a process in place to find the best resolution for those groups and the wider community.

What else does the report cover?

• Roles of faith communities in community-building and social cohesion
• Issues around co-location and sharing of facilities
• The facility needs of minority faiths in Cambridge

View the Executive Summary here or the full report here.