Princess highlights affordability problem

The Princess Royal has spoken out over the lack of affordable homes in the south-west of England, warning that: "Housing affordability in the South West is not so much a gap as a chasm."

Speaking at the 24th housing event of the Rural Housing Trust, of whom she is president, the princess said that the purchasing of second homes was a major contributor to the problem in the region, where the average house price is 12 times that of the average salary,reports the Chartered Institute of Housing.

The Princess added that building homes in the right places to meet the needs of communities needed "a little more understanding and imagination and knowledge" than was evident now.

Such understanding and imagination may be provided by those using the self build method in order to ensure their own requirements are met.

According to the latest Land Registry figures the average house price in the south-west in February this year was £197,191.


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