Italiangreyhound
With respect to your original question, you’ve had lots of good ideas already, so I’m only going to add a few thoughts.
When you say a new housing development, I immediately think of families with young children. That makes me think about Mums (or Dads), perhaps feeling isolated, uprooted and a bit restricted in what they can do. So something for those people – keep fit, meditation or yoga classes if you have the space. Anything to bring new – and quite possibly lonely – members of the community together. (I know some churches aren’t keen on yoga but just an idea.)
Definitely leaflets over knocking on doors. When a Jehovah’s Witness said to me at the door, ‘Are you not concerned about what’s going to happen to you when you die, dear?’, it did leave me feeling a bit jangled!
On the larger question of mission/evangelism, I do think you have to proceed very, very carefully. I don’t know if you will remember but my very first post here was about the saga of my born again ex-boyfriend and the abiding effect it had on me. (You sent me a very sweet response! 
)
My experience has made me thinking very deeply about evangelism and its effect on families, friendships and communities. A lot of heartache can ensue so the whole thing has to be handled with wisdom and delicacy.
If members of the church are to approach those who are not, with the intent of ‘spreading the word’, let it be with tolerance and humility. The other person is not an empty vessel. They have ideas and beliefs too from which church members might learn. So let the experience be an exchange of insights. Nobody has a monopoly on the truth. Nobody.
And don’t forget that the potential convert has a whole web of connections with other people and a cultural background that might be placed in jeopardy by conversion.
I’m saying this because I’ve been hurt by evangelism, yes, but also, looking at it as rationally as I am able, I think it is an outmoded practice.
I liked what TooBusybyHalf said up-thread about being more likely to buy something if the shop assistant isn’t being too keen. I think a lot of people react like that – I know I do. So you might find paradoxically that more people will want to come to church, if you don’t evangelise.
Sikhism is an often forgotten jewel amongst religions with respect to its attitude towards conversion. There is no culture of conversion/evangelism in Sikhism and the viewpoint is more that it is good to be a Sikh but there are other valid spiritual paths. Crucially, Sikhs believe you can get into heaven without being Sikh. They welcome outsiders to their gurdwaras but don’t pursue or try to persuade non-Sikhs. If you want more information about their beliefs, they will gladly give it. If you feel you want to become a Sikh, you will be welcomed but, importantly, the impetus has to come from within you.
They also have a strong tradition of outreach work and helping vulnerable members of the community.
So I feel that Sikhism is actually quite a good model for other religious groups wishing to thrive in our modern multicultural society.