Parishioners from Christ the Saviour have helped secure the next step for community-led housing in Ealing after a decade of campaigning.
Members of Christ the Saviour Church in Ealing, part of Ealing Citizens — an alliance of local faith organisations, educational institutions and charities — are celebrating a major step forward in their campaign for genuinely affordable housing, as the alliance begins work with Ealing Council on a new community-led development in Ealing.
The proposal, which could deliver around 20 permanently affordable homes, follows more than a decade of faithful community organising by local people, including members of Christ the Saviour Church.
Rooted in a shared commitment to justice, dignity and the belief that everyone deserves a secure place to call home, parishioners have been at the heart of the campaign for a Community Land Trust (CLT) in the borough.
Long term, truly affordable housing
Community Land Trusts are non-profit organisations that ensure homes remain affordable for local people in perpetuity. By linking housing costs to local incomes rather than market prices, CLTs offer a long-term solution to London’s housing crisis, which continues to price out young people, families and key workers.
Christ the Saviour church has played a key role in sustaining this campaign over many years — organising locally, sharing lived experiences, and building support for a fairer housing system.
Jackie Ashmenall, Community Leader from Christ the Saviour Church, said:
“I’m so proud of our housing team who have never given up hope that one day we would see genuinely, permanently affordable homes built in our borough. These homes will mean security and opportunity for people who are so often squeezed out of the housing market — key workers, young families and young people.
We have worked tirelessly for over 10 years on this campaign because we believe the Community Land Trust model offers something different: a fairer system where homes stay affordable not just today, but for future generations. That’s why this moment means so much to our community.”
Henry Wilson, a young resident involved with Ealing Citizens, said:
“I work full-time but I can just about afford to rent one room in a shared house, because owning a home in London feels impossible. For many young people like me, the housing market is completely out of reach.
Through Ealing Citizens I’ve learned how Community Land Trusts can give young working people a real chance to own a home and put down roots. That’s why I’m excited to be part of this campaign and hopeful we’ll see more genuinely affordable homes built across the borough.”
Not just a campaign but faith in action
Ealing Citizens will now work alongside the council, local residents and partners to develop a plan for the site, ensuring that the homes are not only affordable but shaped by the community itself.
For parishioners of Christ the Saviour, this moment is not just a campaign milestone, but an expression of their faith in action — seeking justice, building community, and working for the flourishing of their neighbours.
Want to get involved?
Ealing Citizens will hold a Pre-Election Accountability Assembly on 28 April in Southall, presenting their Manifesto for Change on housing, jobs, and temporary accommodation to local candidates.
If you are interested in finding out more, please do come along!
RSVP: https://actionnetwork.org/events/ealing-citizens-accountability-assembly-2/
