Rising prices have put homes out of reach of locals in Devon

The move follows a conference at which experts considered ways of freeing land for homes where house prices have forced out locals.

Business in the Community, in partnership with the Prince of Wales, wants to encourage businesses to use land for affordable housing.

It will be surveying those areas most in need.

Young people

Spokeswoman Libby Sandbrook, said: "We will be holding events, bringing landowners, housing providers and local planners together to look into local communities and see where the need is and see what solutions are appropriate to that community.

"We'll be focussing on Cumbria, Cornwall, Devon and North Wales to begin with and then we'll move over to places like Lincoln and Norfolk, taking them one by one."

Business in the Community is working with the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Westminster, The Housing Corporation, The Countryside Agency and The Country Land and Business Association.

Average house prices in Devon and Cornwall are now more than �200,000, well out of reach of many local people.

The issue is raising concerns about the increasing number of young people leaving the region.

Some local authorities have been able to pump money from increased council tax on second homes into affordable housing projects.

In the South Hams work has started on a �600,000 scheme in Brixton.

Six homes are being built in a project co-ordinated by South Hams District Council, the Housing Corporation and Tor Homes.

Similar schemes are planned for Salcombe, Dartmouth, Kingsbridge, East Allington and Chillington.