PRINCE Charles wrote to government ministers highlighting his concern over rural housing and countryside communities.

An exchange of letters published by the government show that the prince wrote to then housing minister Yvette Cooper MP in August 2007.

The letters were published by the Cabinet Office on Thursday (4 June).

The prince raised his concerns about affordable housing in rural communities and offered his congratulations on the government's recently published Eco Towns Prospectus.

Ms Cooper replied by saying she was delighted to hear of the prince's support for the department's work on eco-towns.

She said she was pleased that his Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment was working closely with the department in this area.

Ms Cooper went on to set out some of the ways the department was acting to tackle the barriers to the delivery of affordable housing in rural areas.

The following year, Prince Charles wrote to housing minister Caroline Flint, mentioning difficulties in completing heritage-led regeneration projects experienced by the Prince's Regeneration Trust.

The Prince suggested a meeting to discuss this issue.

The Prince's letter also mentioned his concerns about affordable rural housing and his desire to see better vocational training.

At the end of his letter The Prince refers to an earlier discussion with the minister about the possibility of secondments.

Ms Flint replied setting out some of the ways the government was delivering affordable rural housing and suggesting a meeting between government officials and the Prince's foundation.

The full exchange of letters can be downloaded here.