Politicians, Philanthropists and HRH The Princess Royal to speak at CIH SW Regional Housing Event in Torquay

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH SW) in the South West is once again holding its annual regional housing event at the Palace Hotel in Torquay from 9th to 11th April. The event is a total sell out with over 1000 delegates and exhibitors attending.

In the South West region where house prices are nearly 12 times the average income and one in every 15 families is on the waiting list for social housing, there are many housing issues to address at Torquay 2008. The theme of this year’s event is 'People & Places', recognising that the SW as a region has a wide range of communities that are different and distinctive, as are the individuals within them.

This year HRH The Princess Royal is attending as President of the Rural Housing Trust and key speakers include former deputy Prime Minister, the Rt Hon John Prescott MP, journalist, author and broadcaster Polly Toynbee, South West MP Matthew Taylor, special advisor to Government on Sustainable Rural Communities and Moira Constable, Chief Executive, Rural Housing Trust.

Michael Eavis, founder of the Glastonbury Festival and philanthropist is to open this popular regional housing event and use it as a platform to launch his Affordable Housing Campaign at Glastonbury 2008.

Notes for Editors

The mission of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is to "maximise the contribution that housing professionals make to the well being of communities."

CIH is based in Coventry and has regional branches all over the UK and In Hong Kong. The South West branch of the CIH covers the whole of the South West from Swindon to Cornwall, from Bristol to Dorset.

The key aims of the CIH South West are:
To support and encourage students and members in the South West
To promote membership of the CIH
To develop joint working with associated professional bodies
To raise awareness of housing issues in the South West

For further information please visit the CIH website at www.cih.org or contact Gill Smith Publicity officer, CIH South West - gill.wordsmith@ntlworld.com or call 01202 466527.

Journalists can request a press pass from gill.wordsmith@ntlworld.com