MORE village homes must be built to ease Britain's housing crisis, the Princess Royal has warned.

Princess Anne delivered the keynote speech at the national affordable rural housing conference held in Cheltenham on Friday (21 February).

Smaller developments of 6-12 rural homes were preferable to larger scale developments, she told delegates at Pitville Pump Room.

The Princess attended the event – jointly organised by the Rural Services Network and the Rural Housing Alliance – in her capacity as patron of the English Rural Housing Association.

Building in in existing villages was cheaper and would encourage younger rural families to stay, rather than moving out to find affordable housing in cities, she said.

The Princess's speech generated widespread media coverage, including a front-page story in the Daily Telegraph on Saturday (22 February).

The conference also marked the launch of a new partnership.

It brings together the Rural Services Network with the Rural Housing Alliance to promote a collaborative national approach to advocating the need for affordable rural housing.

Both organisations believe the lack of affordable homes is a problem affecting the wellbeing of rural communities across England.

Higher property values, limited investment in affordable homes, wealthy incomers and low paid local employment opportunities have all contributed to the current crisis facing rural areas.

Rural Housing Alliance chairman Peter Moore said the two organisations would work together for the broader benefit of rural communities.

"Our collective voice and potential to make a difference at national, regional and local levels is significantly greater when we work together."

Rural Services Network chief executive Graham Biggs said collective efforts would make a real difference to the challenges of rural housing.

The lack of affordable rural housing had been a longstanding concern across the network's membership and the partnership was an opportunity to act on this, said Mr Biggs.