Prince opens rural housing scheme

Prince Charles met residents of the housing development

The Prince of Wales has opened an affordable rural housing development built on land owned by his estate.

The scheme at Springwell Hill in Bletchingdon, Oxfordshire, is on land set aside by the Duchy of Cornwall.

Clarence House said the aim of the scheme was to help meet the local need for affordable homes.

After meeting architects and builders involved in the project, Prince Charles met residents before stepping inside one of the homes.

He was then due to plant an Ash tree, before making a speech at the village hall.

The homes have been built by Oxford Citizens Housing Association and consists of 12 units - a mixture of flats and houses.

Eight of the units, which all have "very good" Echomes ratings, are for rent and four are intended to be sold on a shared ownership basis.

"The Prince of Wales's affordable rural housing initiative was launched in June 2003 with the aim of engaging the private sector in the delivery of affordable rural housing," a Clarence House spokeswoman said.