Excitement levels are rising as a village prepares for a visit from the Prince of Wales today. 

His Royal Highness, President of The Prince's Foundation for Building Community and Business In The Community, will be visiting an affordable rural housing scheme in West Hanningfield following an initiative led by the two Prince's Charities to promote more affordable homes for rural communities.

HRH will plant a tree, visit the village hall and meet two local residents in their home. 

The Affordable Rural Housing Initiative was launched by HRH The Prince of Wales in June 2003 as part of his Rural Action Programme, under the aegis of Business In The Community and in collaboration with The Prince's Foundation for Building Community who took the initiative forward.

The purpose was to raise awareness of the impacts of the lack of affordable rural housing on the economic and social well-being of rural communities; to engage the private sector more in the delivery of well-designed rural affordable housing.

Essex & Suffolk Water and The Hastoe Housing Association were quick to respond to the initiative and worked together to deliver the West Hanningfield Scheme.