- The plans seek to build 120 homes each year across a 20-year period
Locals have lashed out at plans proposed by King Charles to build 2,500 homes on 320 acres of farmland in a historic market town.
Residents of Faversham, in Kent, have criticised the proposals put forward by the Duchy of Cornwall which they believe will ‘swallow up’ the town and turn it into an ‘urban mass’.
The plans, which were first announced when the King, as the then Duke of Cornwall, managed the Duchy in 2018, seek to build 120 homes each year across a 20-year period.
An application for consent for an initial 261 homes was submitted to the local council in December last year, sparking outrage among locals who argue the town does not have the infrastructure support such a development, The Telegraph reports.
Some have claimed the proposals will negatively impact the local environment and contradict the King’s love for the natural world, while others say it will increase traffic and air pollution.
The houses are earmarked for a plot of land to the south-east of Faversham which was acquired by the Duchy in 1999.
The proposals have been put forward to address the housing crisis and will deliver an ‘ideal town’ in line with a similar urban development in Poundbury.
It will deliver ‘affordable homes designed and built to the same high-quality standards, indistinguishable from market homes’, according to a website for the development.
The website adds: ‘South East Faversham will be an attractive, modern and enjoyable place in which people can live, work, shop and relax. It will be guided by local needs and inspired by the character of Faversham.’
There will also be space earmarked for ‘food stores and independent retailers, craftmakers and producers’, while a new high street will feature a range of restaurants, cafes and office spaces.
‘There will be a new primary school and options are being explored for a care home and potentially a range of health related facilities,’ the website states.
A new ’employment area’ will also feature on the eastern part of the site and will include ‘light industrial and distribution businesses encouraged to relocate nearer junction 7 of the M2’. Faversham’s cricket club will also be relocated in the new development, with its current location being redeveloped into housing.
The plans were recently put out for public consultation with Swale Borough Council, prompting a number of angered locals to voice their concerns.
Speaking out against the plans, resident Peter Hall wrote: ‘Do you really want it to be ‘on your watch’ that all our historic villages are swallowed up into one urban mass, and so much vital agricultural land will be lost forever?’
Richard Winnett added: ‘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.’
Sarah Vomley added: ‘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.’
Another resident Angela Penrose, also wrote on a Facebook campaign group: ‘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.’
James Addicott added: ‘My family are very proud 3rd-generation Duchy farmers and they feel ashamed and betrayed. No honour, just greed. We were hoping the Royals were maybe oblivious to it all, with good intentions, but it’s all a gloss.’
Sharon Onciu claimed the village of Selling where she lives, which is southeast of Faversham, would be ‘destroyed’ if the plans went ahead.
She wrote: ‘The Duchy of Cornwall is I understand the Prince of Wales? If the Duchy truly believes this will benefit this part of the world they are wholly misguided. We are already stretched to the limit.’
‘No one I have met supports this application. In truth we live in constant fear about what the duchy’s next move will be and how it will destroy yet more of our beautiful countryside.’
The Duchy of Cornwall, who have put forward the plans, is a private estate established by Edward III in 1337.
Prince William, who is the Prince of Wales, now controls the estate and its £345million property portfolio – which includes 128,000 acres of land – after inheriting it from his father, King Charles III when he made made King.
The Duchy, which reportedly had a £21million income last year, is passed to the eldest son of a reigning British monarch.
Inheriting the Duchy has made the new Prince of Wales the biggest private landowner in Britain, with a £1.2 billion holding across 23 counties, including farms, housing developments, seven castles, woodland, coastlines and commercial property.
Although Prince William is new to the role, over the past few years he has been learning about the Duchy in preparation.
A spokesman for the Duchy of Cornwall told The Telegraph: ‘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.
‘It will prioritise access to green spaces, sustainable transport and will focus on the community’s needs – including affordable housing and a new primary school as well as new traffic infrastructure and healthcare services.
‘New green spaces including meadows, orchards, allotments and woodland means biodiversity is set to increase by 20 per cent while a focus on sustainable travel and building a walkable neighbourhood is expected to generate 20 per cent fewer car trips compared to similar-sized communities.’
Earlier this week it was revealed King Charles is reported to be feeling ‘over the moon’ after his cancer treatment has started well.
While his doctors are keeping a close eye on his health insiders told the paper that he is ‘itching to take the reins’ and return to his role as King.
And they claim he wants to follow in his mother’s footsteps – following her mantra that ‘he needs to be seen to be believed’.
No upcoming trips have been confirmed, Buckingham Palace has confirmed to MailOnline.
The King hopes to be back for the Trooping the Colour in June and the 80th anniversary of D-Day in France the week before, The Sun reports, but this is expected to come after his traditional post-Easter break.
On Sunday the monarch was in high-spirits this morning as he made a ‘gentle’ return to public life in his most significant appearance since being diagnosed with cancer.
The ‘happy’ monarch was seen smiling and waving at well-wishers as he arrived in his maroon state Bentley limousine for the service being held at St George’s Chapel.
The King’s cheery appearance provided reassurance to the public after he took a step back from his official duties following his diagnosis in February.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
