Prince of Wales said he plans to start small and scale up the social housing if it鈥檚 鈥渟ustainable鈥�

Prince William plans to build social housing on his 130,000-acre Duchy of Cornwall estate as part of a five-year plan to 鈥渆nd homelessness鈥�.

The Prince of Wales said he wanted to 鈥渟tart small鈥� by building social housing on his land, and would then scale it up if it works.

鈥淭he key thing is making this sustainable,鈥� he told the Sunday Times. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all very well doing big gestures, but there鈥檚 no point if 鈥� there鈥檚 no future to it.鈥�

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William is drawing up plans for social housing on the Duchy estate

He told the newspaper he is determined to 鈥渕ake a difference 鈥� that doesn鈥檛 set people up that are homeless for another fall鈥�.

The heir to the throne, who has a number of residences including at Kensington Palace, Windsor and Sandringham, described himself as an 鈥渦nlikely advocate for this cause鈥�.

He plans to launch the project to 鈥渆nd homelessness鈥� from the Royal Foundation he runs with his wife, The Princess of Wales, later this month.

In the interview, he said he hopes it will have a 鈥渢angible impact鈥� and provide 鈥渓iving conditions up and down the country that improve people鈥檚 lives who need that first rung of the ladder鈥�.

Prince William said he recently met housing secretary Michael Gove and Labour leader Keir Starmer to brief them on his plans.

鈥淚鈥檓 not here to talk about government policy,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y plan is an additive to what is already being done.鈥�

>>See also: A renaissance king takes to the throne in a challenging age

鈥淚t鈥檚 not insurmountable, this challenge. If anyone does become homeless [we can say], 鈥極K, here鈥檚 the way back, here鈥檚 the pathway鈥�.鈥�

Prince William gained control over the Duchy estate, which stretches from Cornwall to Kent, upon his father鈥檚 ascension to the throne last year. Revenue from the estate is used to fund public, private and charitable activities.

When King Charles was prince, his Poundbury project was built on Duchy of Cornwall land in Dorset, according to principles of architecture and urban planning he advocated.

When asked for comment, a spokesperson for the Duchy estate said she had no further details to add.

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