Prince Charles recently opened the doors of his 35-year project, the innovative health and well-being center at Dumfries House in Cumnock. To support his advocacy, the clinic uses renewable energy but remains to be a state-of-the-art facility. However, there are reports the building's construction pushed through even without planning permission.
According to Express, the heir to the throne was allowed to keep an underground energy facility as part of his pledge to be greener. However, it reportedly had no planning permission. In the planning documents The Prince's Foundation submitted to East Ayrshire Council in July, it revealed that the underfloor heating system was installed while the center was being constructed.
The Prince's Foundation admitted that the system was put in without planning permission. The application form has a question if the "work of change of use already started" and the "yes box" was ticked.
However, the planning officers assured that the ground collection, flow, and return pipework would all be placed underground to ensure the project would have no visual impact on the landscape in the long term. Hence, it got approval.
Prince Charles has been hoping to build this green facility for 35 years. Finally, it comes to fruition earlier this year. It will use renewable energy and will offer free holistic care for the patients referred by the NHS doctors. Aside from complementary therapies, it also has fitness and education programs.
Queen Elizabeth II's son helped arranged a £45-million deal to buy the Dumfries House and its collection of Chippendale furniture. He led a group of charities and the Scottish Government to secure the property in 2007, using his own charitable foundation contribution worth £20 million.
Prince Charles joined over 100 guests to unveil the new center that would hold The Prince's Foundation's Integrated Health and Wellbeing Program, which was established in 2016. In a statement via Royal Center, the Clarence House revealed that the "program championed natural remedies and healthy-eating and focused on healing the mind and body as a whole."
Community members can enjoy healthcare services, complementary therapies, and classes through GP referral. It also includes tai-chi, yoga, cookery, reiki, reflexology, acupuncture, mindfulness, and nutrition workshops, among others.
The healthcare facility boasts a huge room for different activities, like group yoga and meditation. It also has six smaller treatment rooms for individual therapies. The building features energy-efficient underfloor heating throughout the center to make patients feel warm and comfortable. "I hope it will be able to make some difference to a lot of the health issues that exist in this area," Prince Charles said.
