THE Princess Royal will be visiting Kent on Tuesday to speak about the importance of affordable village housing.

As president of the Rural Housing Trust, she will address a seminar in the village hall at Newchurch on Romney Marsh.

It will be attended by parish councillors from across Ashford, Shepway and Dover districts.

The village hall at Newchurch stands beside a small affordable homes project typical of those developed by the Trust in partnership with Shepway and Ashford borough councils.

The aim of the seminar is to improve understanding of how parish councils can be involved in housing projects for local people. Delegates will hear from experts on issues including gaining planning concent, community consultations and sources of land.

Elinor Goodman, chair of the Affordable Rural Housing Commission will lead the question and answer sessions.

The Princess will arrive in the area earlier to visit Aldington Primary School, near Ashford, where she will open a recent extension to the building.

Among those she is scheduled to meet is chairman of Aldington and Bonnington parish council and Ashford borough Cllr Peter Wood, who has been involved in the recent development of 16 affordable homes in the village.