King Charles's plan to build an "ideal town" on an estate in Faversham, Kent, has been met with fierce opposition from local residents who argue that the proposal contradicts the monarch's stance on environmental and farming issues. The Duchy of Cornwall, which owns the estate, has proposed building 2,500 homes across 320 acres of agricultural land, a move that could significantly increase the town's population of just 20,000.
The plan, which was first announced in 2018 when King Charles was the Prince of Wales and managed the estate, aims to create sustainable homes and tackle the housing crisis in England. However, angry residents have lodged objections with Swale Borough Council, accusing the Duchy of Cornwall of disregarding the environment and the potential loss of "a huge area of fine productive agricultural land."
Sarah Vomley, a local resident, expressed her disappointment in the Duchy's plans, stating, "I always thought the Duchy cared about the environment and green spaces, seems I was wrong. They also can't (or won't) maintain the houses they already have." Similarly, Richard Winnett wrote, "The Duchy proposes such a development with the consequential loss of a huge area of fine productive agricultural land. This seems totally at odds with HRH's public stance on environmental and farming issues."
The Duchy of Cornwall intends to deliver a project similar to Poundbury in Dorset, which was the first "urban extension" to represent King Charles's vision of an "ideal town." In 1993, 2,000 homes were built in Poundbury as part of the project. A spokesman for the Duchy defended the Faversham proposal, stating, "South-east Faversham will, if planning permission is granted, follow in the footsteps of Poundbury, Nansledan and other sustainable Duchy developments and become one of the most environmentally friendly neighbourhoods in the United Kingdom."
The spokesman added that the development would prioritize access to green spaces, sustainable transport, and focus on the community's needs, including affordable housing, a new primary school, traffic infrastructure, and healthcare services. The Duchy also claims that biodiversity is set to increase by 20 percent, with the creation of new green spaces such as meadows, orchards, allotments, and woodland, while a focus on sustainable travel and building a walkable neighborhood is expected to generate 20 percent fewer car trips compared to similar-sized communities.
Despite these assurances, residents remain unconvinced, with some accusing the royal family of greed and betraying their environmentalist stance. One resident, commenting on a social media campaign group, said, "It seems there's no end to the greed of Prince William and King Charles!! It's a disgrace that they pose as environmentalists when in fact they're like all developers and it's purely about the money! And what about food security?? All this Grade 1 and 2 farmland being concreted over."
Another resident, whose family are third-generation Duchy farmers, expressed their sense of betrayal, stating, "No honour, just greed. We were hoping the Royals were maybe oblivious to it all, with good intentions, but it's all a gloss."
The controversy surrounding the Faversham development has also raised questions about Prince William's role, as he inherited the Duchy of Cornwall estate and its vast property portfolio when King Charles acceded to the throne in 2022. It remains to be seen whether the Prince of Wales will intervene in the plans or allow them to proceed as proposed.
As the backlash against King Charles's "ideal town" plan continues to grow, the Duchy of Cornwall finds itself in a difficult position, attempting to balance its stated commitment to sustainability and community needs with the concerns and objections of local residents. The outcome of this dispute will likely have far-reaching implications for the future of Faversham and the public perception of the royal family's involvement in large-scale development projects.
