What Faith Communities Value Most in New West Midlands Homes
When our faith group gathered to share stories about housing as part of the West Midlands Spatial Development Strategy (SDS), the conversation revealed clear priorities rooted in everyday realities. People spoke candidly about affordability, suitability across generations, and homes that support dignified living. These insights, drawn from our project questionnaire, show what public value looks like on the ground — not abstract policy, but tangible improvements that let families thrive.
Why the SDS matters
The SDS is a long-term regional plan that will guide where new homes, jobs, transport links, green and blue spaces, and key services are located across the West Midlands. Instead of each council planning in isolation, it joins things up across towns and cities to balance growth, protect important natural spaces, and support more sustainable 15-minute neighbourhoods. Over the next few years, there will be several stages of public consultation and examination, and the decisions made will shape daily life in our communities for decades.
What we did
We adopted Moore’s (1995) definition of public value to find out the real benefits created for society when public organisations use their powers and resources to improve people’s quality of life, promote fairness, and strengthen trust, not just to deliver outputs.
The Mark Moore (1995) Public Value Triangle explains how public organisations create value in a community. It states that three things must align simultaneously for value to be created. First, public value: the policy or service must benefit the public. Second, legitimacy and support: it must have legal authority, political backing, and public approval. And third, operational capacity: the organisation must have the skills, resources, and systems in place to deliver it. All three of these serve as the pillars that create The Mark Moore Public Value Triangle.
This meant that even the way our project was run had to be legitimate and inclusive so that community members’ input could truly shape decisions that affect their lives. Therefore, the community could give us their input via a questionnaire, postcards, audio recording, photographs, drawings, and poetry. The insights that follow are in response to questions on housing issues.
Homeownership and Stability: The Current Picture
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Most participants (the majority) either own their home outright or rent from the council, with private rentals a close third. The smallest shares described part-rent/part-own arrangements or living with family/friends, highlighting pockets of makeshift stability amid rising costs. This mix reflects resilience but also vulnerability — many value secure council tenancies for their reliability, yet worry about transitions as life changes.
Satisfaction with Space and Condition — But Affordability Looms Large
A strong majority feel their current home is big enough for their household and in good condition. These positives highlight quiet wins in the system: homes that fit and function. Yet 27% flagged affordability as a real strain — rents, mortgages, or bills pushing budgets to the edge. For these households, housing isn’t just shelter; it’s a daily test of stewardship and provision.
The Core Housing Crisis: Affordability and Youth Lockout
When asked about the biggest issues, “not enough affordable homes” topped the list, followed closely by “young people cannot find suitable homes.” These aren’t gripes — they’re justice concerns. Families see the next generation priced out, unable to build independent lives near work, worship, or support networks. In faith terms, this echoes calls to welcome strangers and ensure the young inherit a land of promise, not precarity.
Priorities for New Homes: Affordable, Adaptable, Efficient
If new homes are built, here’s what ranked highest (top three choices): Truly affordable rents and prices (clear #1) — value starts with access for ordinary incomes. Good quality and energy-efficient homes — durable builds that cut bills and honour creation care. Homes suitable for older or disabled people — adaptable spaces for ageing in place with dignity. Runners-up included family-sized options, green space proximity, and mixed communities. This is a real vision for inclusive neighbourhoods where every life stage and ability finds welcome.
Public Value in Action
Mark Moore’s (1995) public value framework shines here: housing policy succeeds when citizens judge it to deliver fairness, quality of life, and trust in institutions. Our feedback tests that — WMCA’s SDS can create value by prioritising affordability first, ensuring young families stay rooted, and supporting the vulnerable. Faith voices amplify this: homes as places of rest, hospitality, and hope.
We will share these themes with planners via our project blog and report. What stories from your street would you add? Join the conversation in the comment section.
