Prince William sells £500m of Duchy of Cornwall land in bid to tackle homelessness

Prince William has taken significant steps in his long-running campaign to address homelessness, selling more than 20 per cent of the Duchy of Cornwall's 128,000 acres for £500 million and establishing a data-driven initiative designed to identify individuals most at risk.

The Daily Star reported on the prince's latest efforts, which include the formation of a Data Lab and a panel discussion hosted by Jeff Humphrey.

A major financial commitment

The land sale — which disposed of more than a fifth of the Duchy of Cornwall's total holdings — represents one of the most substantial financial moves William has made in service of his homelessness work. The proceeds are intended to support efforts that William has pursued as a personal cause for several decades.

The Data Lab initiative

Alongside the land sale, William has established a Data Lab aimed at harnessing data within strict "legal and ethical guidelines." A central function of the project is the analysis of anonymised banking information from 5.4 million NatWest customers, which is being combined with recent census data. The goal is to identify areas in Scotland where individuals face a heightened risk of homelessness, allowing for more targeted and preventative intervention.

Panel voices the need for responsible data use

The initiative's panel, hosted by Humphrey, included Zahra Bahrololoumi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Salesforce UK and Ireland. Bahrololoumi spoke to the importance of handling sensitive data with care.

"The Lab has the expertise to make sure that the data is used appropriately and responsibly and that's hugely important to preserve the dignity of human beings," she said.