THE Princess Royal is to give a keynote address at a major new conference focusing on the challenges facing rural housing.

Joined by other high level speakers, the conference will provide the launchpad for a renewed focus on the challenges and solutions for housing across rural England.

The conference takes place in Cheltenham on Friday, 21 February.

It will also mark the beginning of a new partnership between the National Housing Federation Rural Alliance, comprising specialist rural housing associations from across England and the Rural Services Network.

Alliance chairman Peter Moore said: "This new partnership offers a fantastic opportunity to bring together the voice of housing associations, local authorities and other service providers across rural England.

The conference is high level, national and will help to set the tone for what we do next to maximise our collective ability to meet the many housing challenges which we face."

Other high level speakers include the representatives from the Chartered Institute of Housing and the National Housing Federation.

A small charge of £45 plus VAT is being made to cover the costs of organising the event.

For details, and to book your place, click here. For a word version of the same form, click here.