The Church of England is facing accusations of hypocrisy for relying on the countryside to build tens of thousands of houses on the land.
New villages and suburbs will be built across the country on farmland and woodland rich in wildlife, bringing millions of pounds into church coffers.
Church commissioners have identified enough land set aside for development by councils to build 30,000 new homes, 9,000 of which are 'affordable'.
Planning applications have already been submitted for around 8,000 houses on church land.
The housing initiative is justified as a social mission that “solves the housing crisis” when a “collective effort is needed to address an acute shortage of truly affordable homes.”
However, locals have accused the church of hypocrisy by 'coding it in', with only 10 percent of homes in one major development categorized as affordable.
As one of the nation's largest landowners, the church is also one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Labor Government's drive to reduce planning delays and build 1.5 million new homes in five years.
Outline planning permission has already been given for 1,535 new homes, 20 per cent of which will be 'affordable', at Chidswell in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. The site includes farmland and two ancient woodlands, with more than 100 species of birds and animals.
Neil Kidd, Malcolm Fraser, Gary Tester and Brian Barbary at Fields in Barnham, Sussex, where the Church of England has sold land for housing
Aerial view of a field where development has already started with fields in Barnham, Sussex
The Chidswell Action Group (CAG) has been fighting to stop the development for years and has applied to the High Court for a judicial review, claiming evidence of protected species of Kingfishers, Barn Owls and a Redwing has been effectively ignored.
A spokesperson said: 'Those trying to push through this development are doing so in the interests of profit – knowing they will cause irreversible and permanent damage.'
A CAG member said of the church landowner: 'The hypocrisy is ridiculous because they are custodians of God's creation, but the way they have dismissed the threat to wildlife is absolutely shocking.'
A £300 million scheme to build 2,200 homes west of Bersted, near Bognor Regis, West Sussex, is awaiting planning approval.
The developers say only 10 percent of the homes will be “affordable” – meaning they must be rented cheaply or sold at least 20 percent below market value.
Resident David Buckley, 43, said: 'This is just the church cashing in because they want to move some prime real estate at the right price.
'To allow such gigantic housing development – which, by the way, drives a horse and cart through planning guidelines – will devastate this area…'
Bill Deal, 71, said: 'Where do the kids go to school? Which hospitals will treat another 5,500 people? Which dentists and doctors will pick up the workload?
The Field The Church of England has sold land for housing
“This is not a small development that can be accommodated by the infrastructure that already exists. We will be overrun. '
In nearby Barnham, Eastergate and Westergate, West Sussex, the church plans to build 3,200 homes for 9,000 new residents.
This scheme has also faced local anger.
Malcolm Fraser, a local resident and IT consultant, said: 'The development is far, far too big for this area. The infrastructure is already collapsing under the weight of the current population.
'This is clearly a Church of England money-making venture that is cashing in.'
Brian Barbary: 'The church has just been guided without a thought for the residents who already live here. It is done for maximum profit and it is completely wrong. '
A spokesperson for the church commissioners said the charity has a 'responsibility' to 'generate strong returns'.
'We are working with local planning authorities across the country to bring these homes forward and help tackle the urgent housing crisis in both rural and urban England.'
