A MAJOR renovation project in East Lancashire is highlighted in a new Church of England report on how its land and buildings can be used to ease the housing crisis.

The revamp of St Silas Church Parish Hall in Blackburn, with the help of the BBC's Children in Need and DIY SOS presented by Nick Knowles, to create six self-contained rooms for homeless young adults is given as an example of what can be done.

The ‘Coming Home’ report by the Archbishops’ Commission on Housing, Church and Community says the institution should examine how its 6,000 acres of land could deliver more affordable homes.

It said it is a national scandal that eight million people live in 'overcrowded, unaffordable, or unsuitable homes'.

The commission calls for a long-term housing strategy from the government with the Church using its land to build more affordable homes.

It highlights the St Silas scheme to illustrate this.

The 2019 project involving Blackburn Homeless charity Nightsafe used volunteers to convert the Parish Hall to accommodate six homeless Blackburn and Darwen 16 to 24-year-olds.

The Bishop of Blackburn the Rt Rev Julian Henderson said: “I am delighted the Archbishops have chosen to spotlight this initiative in this important report. What St Silas and Nightsafe achieved in 2019 in two short weeks working with the BBC was amazing and uplifting."

The Rt Rev Philip North, Bishop of Burnley, chair of the Church of England's Estates Evangelism Task Group, said: “We can and should be able to work together across political, religious, cultural and economic lines to create a new future for housing. We need to do this to address the huge injustices that exist. The church has a unique role to play."

The St Silas case study in the report says: "The church’s Parish Church Council wished to find a new purpose for its church hall.

" At the same time, Nightsafe, a local charity working with homeless young people, were looking for dedicated accommodation for their youngest clients. Together, they had an opportunity.

"Rather than simply repairing the hall, St Silas took this opportunity to think about the best use for the building.

"Sheelagh Aston, their priest-in-charge, was introduced to Nightsafe, and they quickly noticed their shared passion for making a difference.

"This gave them confidence to move forward with what would be a complex project: renovating the hall to create a home for six young people at risk of homelessness.

"The project benefits both the church and the charity."