Prince Charles says rural housing is 'an issue for us all'

Monday's meeting at Eaton Hall, in Cheshire, is part of an initiative launched by Prince Charles in June 2003 to encourage private sector investment.

Landowners, builders and investors will consider what they can contribute.

Prince Charles says lack of affordable housing is "one of the most pressing issues" facing the countryside.

The Affordable Rural Housing Initiative is a two-year project focusing on housing as a springboard to re-generating rural communities.

It is attempting to help local people remain in their communities and keep their schools, shops, pubs and other services open.

We have built up a real head of steam Duke of Westminster

The Duke of Westminster says that the countryside needs an extra 10,000 houses at affordable prices.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he expected the initiative to be successful.

He said: "It is a partnership between the private and public sectors. We have widened the debate.

"We have built up a real head of steam and by the end of this initiative we will have solved many of the issues facing rural housing."

The duke said rural areas had an average income which was 9% lower than urban areas.

He added that a major part of the initiative was encouraging landowners to free up unused parts of their estates.

Second homes

Prince Charles stressed that the issue was one which affected everyone.

He said: "This is an issue for us all, not one which can be left for someone else to solve."

He went on to outline the contribution each sector could make.

"Landowners can help to make land available. Developers can strive towards high-quality and sustainable developments.

"Lenders and investors can develop innovative ways of making schemes financially viable."

BBC correspondent Keith Breene says the problem for rural areas is that much of the housing development caters for people wanting second homes and city commuters.

Representatives from the Countryside Agency, Housing Corporation, Business in the Community, and the Country Land and Business Association will attend the meeting in Cheshire.

They will try to identify regional housing "hot spots" and attempt to get new schemes off the ground.