Prince William (41) has been making the issue of homelessness a priority for the royals for some time now. He is currently pursuing a €3.5 million project to build social housing in Cornwall. 24 houses are expected to be completed by 2025, The Times reported.
According to the report, the Prince of Wales wants to build the buildings on land in Nansledan, a suburb of Newquay. The property belongs to the duchy, which he controls as Duke of Cornwall. The Duchy is making the property available free of charge and will cover the construction costs. William is supposed to personally supervise the construction work. Residential units with up to four bedrooms are planned. There would also be space for additional buildings on the more than 52,000 hectare site.
The Times reported that the heir to the British throne wanted the new homes to “look as livable as possible” to combat the stigma of social housing. They will also be designed in a “traditional Cornish coastal style” to blend in well with the surrounding area. It is assumed that the houses will also meet high energy standards and have, for example, solar panels and heat pumps. The site will be planted with a range of shrubs and flowers to promote biodiversity.
William is working with local homeless charity St Petrocs on the project in Cornwall to provide permanent housing for people living in temporary accommodation in Nansledan. The prince also hopes that landowners will follow his example and build more social housing.
The eldest son of King Charles III came up with the topic. (75) came into contact with him at an early age – although of course he grew up very differently. He was eleven years old when his mother Diana (1961-1997) took him and Prince Harry (39) to a homeless shelter. He is now a patron of the charity that ran it, Passage. At the age of 13, William is said to have said to his mother: “When I become king, I will let the homeless live in our palaces.”
It’s not quite there yet, but he’s working on several projects to combat homelessness. In 2005 he became a sponsor of the charity Centrepoint, which funded housing for young people. Before Christmas 2020 he helped out in a homeless shelter, and in 2022 he sold street newspapers in London. Last June, the future king launched a million-dollar program called “Homewards” to end homelessness within five years. Local stakeholders, experts and investors were brought together to bring about significant changes in the housing market and create more permanent housing. Homewards experts are also expected to work on the Nansledan project.
