Our Work
A surplus vicarage garden is being transformed through the provision of four affordable starter homes
Aerial view of the former vicarage and garden
Proposed building plan
The story so far...
A group of Christians, concerned about the lack of decent, affordable housing in their part of Worcester, wanted to support the Church’s mission to the Tolladine area.
Tolladine CIO was founded in 2017 by members of local churches in the Tolladine area of Worcester. They saw firsthand the poverty, unemployment and poor health of the local community. There was a lack of green space around the low quality, private rented housing which was adding to the sense of a poor environment locally.
The founders also wanted to create a sustainable basis for the mission work in the Tolladine area. Their vision is to improve the availability and quality of housing, to enrich the local environment, and to generate a small income to support the work of the local church.
Initially they bought a house in the locality with an interest-free loan for 5 years. They improved the property, particularly by reducing the energy needed to heat the house. The CIO then let it to a local family who needed support to maintain a tenancy. They managed the house for 5 years, after which the tenant was able to successfully move on to a housing association tenancy.
When the loan period was complete, the CIO were able to find a socially minded purchaser for the property. This enabled the CIO to pay back their loan and have extra capital to take the vision forward.
The vision
With the experience gained through the first phase, the CIO decided to provide more homes for people in housing need in the garden of the former Christ Church vicarage.
The Diocese of Worcester agreed to lease the vicarage to the CIO. This was then sublet to a family. In 2025 the Diocese sold a large part of the garden to the CIO. The plan was to build 4 small eco-friendly starter homes as there is a particular need for this size of affordable home.
The houses would be energy efficient and environmentally friendly, with high levels of insulation and air source heat pumps. The buildings would use sustainable materials with a low carbon footprint for the final design.
Architect's design of new housing
Undertaking site surveys
The delivery
Planning permission was applied for in June 2025 and was initially recommended for refusal.
The trustees worked with a local architect, the Anglican Church Housing Project, local councillors and other professionals to modify the planning application and planning permission was finally granted in June 2026.
Next steps
The CIO are currently putting together their business plan, working with local modular building suppliers and construction contractors as well as the architect to refine the designs and work out the costs of delivering the building project.
They are looking to raise finance through grants, donations, interest-free loans, mortgage finance and partnerships with housing organisations.
They hope to start on site by Autumn 2027 and let the homes to local people in need of affordable housing once they are built.
The garden initially