Prince William Announces $4M Plan to Build Homes for the Unhoused on His Cornwall Estate

Mar. 15, 2025

Prince William visits a center for the unhoused in Bournemouth, U.K. in September 2023.Photo:Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

Prince Williamis stepping up his efforts to help the unhoused.

The Prince of Wales, 41, announced Sunday that he’s spearheading a plan to build 24 new homes for people experiencing housing difficulties in Cornwall, England.

It fulfills a vow William made last year as he kicked off hisHomewardsproject, which is his long-term campaign to tackle the issue. At the time he told U.K. newspaperThe Sunday Timesthat he wanted to put social housing on his own Duchy of Cornwall land.

Teaming up with a local Cornish charity, St Petrocs, the new plan is to build homes in Nansledan, Newquay — in the far southwest of England — at a cost of nearly $4 million (£3 million), PEOPLE understands.

William and the Duchy are giving the land for the project and providing the design and development management expertise. Building work will kick off in September and the first homes are scheduled to be completed in the Fall of 2025.

Prince William at one of his Homewards meetings in September 2023.Andrew Matthews - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Andrew Matthews - WPA Pool/Getty Images

William inherited the $1 billion Duchy of Cornwall estate when he became Prince of Wales following the death of his grandmotherQueen Elizabethin September 2022. Historically, the Duchy provides an income for the heir to the British throne to support him and his family and pay for his public duties and staff costs. It provides an estimated $30 million (£24 million) income for William,Kate Middleton, 42, and their childrenPrince George, 10,Princess Charlotte, 8, andPrince Louis, 5.

“The shortage of social rent and private rented properties are widely considered to be the main causes of increasing homelessness across the country, which is why we are proud to launch this project alongside ambitious plans to unlock more affordable and attainable homes across our estate.”

Prince William visiting one of his Homewards projects in Aberdeen, Scotland in June 2023.Euan Duff - Pool/Getty Images

Euan Duff - Pool/Getty Images

TheDuchy and Williamhope the new development will provide proof of how collaboration can work across the public, private and voluntary sectors — a collaboration that is the key to his five-year Homewards program.

Professor Peter Mackie, member of the Homewards National Expert Panel, said in a statement, “Across the U.K., the lack of truly affordable homes is causing homelessness and results in hundreds of thousands of people living in poor quality temporary accommodation, with a lack of support and often putting their lives on hold for years."

“Building enough permanent affordable homes is a priority, and until we achieve this goal, we must rethink and redesign our temporary solutions. This project, a collaboration between the Duchy of Cornwall, St Petrocs and Homewards, hopes to demonstrate the power of delivering high quality temporary accommodation that really feels like home and gives people the dignity they deserve, alongside a clear pathway to permanent accommodation, creating a model that can be replicated and inspire innovation across the U.K.”

Prince William greets Seyi Obakin, from the Centrepoint charity, in June 26, 2023 in London, England.Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

On his 40thbirthday last year, Williamtook part in an interviewforThe Big Issue, which supports unhoused people in the U.K. andsold copieson the streets of London underneath a baseball cap.

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The announcement came on the same day thatWilliam attended the 2024 BAFTAsin London without Kate as she continues her recovery fromabdominal surgery.

“I’m a big fan ofChristopher Nolanso I’ll be pleased if he wins … I lovedOppenheimer," William said according toThe Daily Telegraph.

The prince, who has been president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts since 2010, added that he had yet to seeBarbie, however.

“I haven’t watchedBarbieyet," hereportedly admitted, “but I want to.”

“With my wife, it’s been a bit [hand motion] — but hopefully we’ll catch up, I’ll make my list tonight,” he reportedly added.

source: people.com