Prince links up with Duke of Westminster to promote and part-fund programme
The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Westminster are spearheading a campaign to persuade landowners and businesses to build affordable homes on their estates.

The push for more affordable rural housing will be run by two directors at a total cost of £250,000 over two years. The Prince and duke, the Countryside Agency and Housing Corporation will foot the bill.

The two directors, yet to be appointed, will work with large landowners and businesses, encouraging them to use property such as empty flats above shops for affordable homes.

Prince Charles has supported the development of social housing on his estate, with 62 affordable units managed by the Guinness Trust at Poundbury, in Dorchester, and a further 92 to come.

He said: "I am acutely aware that, as Duke of Cornwall, I am a substantial landowner myself and that I personally have a role to play."

A further 11 sites in the Duchy of Cornwall are earmarked for development.

However, there is no new funding available, so schemes would have to be subsidised through existing Housing Corporation grants.

Moira Constable, chief executive of the Rural Housing Trust, said: "The support and understanding of landowners is crucial. But it would be a great shame to get them on board only for schemes to grind to a halt because of the lack of funding. I hope that [this] will persuade the government to examine the consequences of not providing the necessary funding. Already, there is a growing pipeline of schemes that are ready to develop."

John Varley, chief executive of the 10,000 ha Clinton Devon estate, said: "This will stimulate landowners to address the issue creatively but it also needs to stimulate local authorities and other players to work together."

Varley has already worked with the Rural Housing Trust to provide 10 affordable homes in the east Devon village of Beer.

Paul Clarke, chief executive of the 19,000 ha Duchy of Lancaster, said: "We cannot ignore the issue – we have to ensure we can cater for people coming out of farming, or people who want to go into farming."

Clarke does not yet have any firm plans to build affordable housing, but expects to meet with other estates in the near future to discuss options. The 109,000 ha rural Crown Estate has plans for about 100 units.

Source

Housing Today