William to launch new 'garden city' for 2,500 people to tackle housing crisis

23 January 2024 , 21:50

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William will build homes on his land (Image: Getty Images)

Prince William is set to launch a 2,500-home “garden city” to tackle the social housing crisis.

The project, through the Duchy of Cornwall, will create hundreds of affordable houses on his farmland. A total of 30% are for low-income households, three times more than rules for new projects.

The 320-acre plan in Faversham, Kent, will create jobs and includes a primary school and shops. Officials are understood to be in the final stages of signing off the application lodged with Swale Borough council, before publishing a decision by January 31.

But Tory MP Helen Whately said the area “could be permanently gridlocked” if thousands of extra homes were built. Royal sources described the project as a “game changer”, adding: “It could open up a range of possibilities to transform Britain’s house building crisis.”

Prince William discusses the construction project (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

William took over the 130,000-acre Duchy estate from King Charles. It spans from Cornwall to Kent and has assets of more than £1billion. The Prince of Wales said he wanted the Duchy, which includes housing projects in Newquay and Dorch-ester, to commit to build social housing on the private estate. Initial plans were put forward in 2018 after the council asked landowners to help meet housing targets.

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The properties, ranging from one to five or six bedrooms, will be powered by renewable energy. The Duchy said a final decision on the plan will be known in due course.

Russell Myers