High Bickington: House prices out of reach of locals

High Bickington near Barnstaple has developed its own plans for 36 affordable homes.

Prince Charles will be citing the village's scheme at a conference on affordable housing on Monday.

Prince Charles owns thousands of acres in Devon, and he wants his Duchy estate to provide affordable housing.

The real joy is that it endorses the fact that what we are doing is right David Brown

He said: "The Duchy is seeking to identify where there might be opportunities for land within its holdings to be considered for affordable housing.

"We have written to all parish councils in areas where the Duchy owns land to offer help with smaller schemes of perhaps five or six homes if there is a need for them."

The cheapest house for sale in High Bickington is about �150,000, well out of the reach of most local people.

But in 2000 the community drew up plans for about 50 new homes, 36 of which will be affordable, as well as community, work and sport facilities on county council owned land.

It is hoped building work on the scheme, which is supported by the government and local authorities, will start in High Bickington next year.

David Brown, chairman of the High Bickington Community Property Trust, said: "We certainly feel very flattered by the royal recognition because obviously he has a lot of influence.

"But the real joy is that it endorses the fact that what we are doing is right.

"There are lots of communities across Devon with land owned by councils, churches or the Duchy that could use the land in this way."