Prince William's Kent Housing Development Plan Approved Despite 'Eyesore' Objections
Construction could begin in 2027/28 after Swale Borough Council in Kent approved the first phase of plans for a 2,500-home development on farmland owned by the Prince of Wales, the Duchy of Cornwall confirmed. The approval came despite significant objections labelling the project an "eyesore" and a "Trojan Horse" for further urban sprawl.
Council Vote and Development Details
Councillors approved the initial phase of the South East Faversham "garden" neighbourhood proposal in a majority vote of 11 in favour and five against on Tuesday evening. This first phase includes 261 homes, with 35% designated as affordable housing, alongside a local centre and green space. The Duchy of Cornwall submitted the plans to Swale Borough Council in 2024, aiming to create a new sustainable community on the edge of Faversham.
Documents released prior to the planning committee meeting revealed that 467 objections had been received. Key concerns cited increased traffic congestion, loss of high-quality agricultural land, harm to wildlife and local heritage, and insufficient infrastructure to support the development. In contrast, twelve letters of support praised the high standard of design and the creation of a new sustainable community.
Objections and Support from Local Councils
Speaking against the plan at the meeting, Boughton Under Blean Parish Council member Sarah Moakes argued that the response was "hardly a ringing endorsement." She warned that the site does not integrate well with the wider rural setting, stating, "The Duchy is a Trojan horse, ushering in another 3,000 houses plus industrial development, a vast urban sprawl as far as the Thanet Way."
Jonnie Reeves of Selling Parish Council told the committee, "This is an eyesore. It is too big. It is out of scale. It will cause massive traffic congestion." However, Harold Goodwin, chairman of the Faversham Community Land Trust, urged councillors to support Prince William's plans, highlighting the provision of social housing as "superior" to other developments.
Goodwin said, "We hope that these councillors will stand up to support Prince William in seeking to provide social housing, setting an example for other developers across the country. It could be unacceptable if Swale frustrated the Duchy's plans for social housing."
Planning Justification and Wider Benefits
The Duchy of Cornwall's planning adviser, Roger Hepher, informed the committee that the council is a "long way short" of having a five-year housing land supply and that delivering affordable housing has been "very difficult." He emphasised, "This development would address both of those issues with the first phase, a large proportion of which would be social rented housing being ready for development in short order."
Hepher added, "The Duchy's earnest objective for this scheme is to bring about a new community that's loved by the residents of Faversham, because it is sensitively designed to respond to local needs and provides much wider benefits to the town." The overall neighbourhood plans will also include a new primary school, a health centre, improved transport links for buses, cycling and walking, and renewable energy initiatives.
Based on current proposals for 2,500 homes, more than 890 would be classified as "affordable," including a mix of shared ownership, social rent, and affordable rent options. The Duchy of Cornwall has a track record of housing projects, including developments at Poundbury in Dorset and Nansledan in Cornwall.
Background and Post-Approval Statements
As heir to the throne, Prince William inherited the Duchy of Cornwall estate, a portfolio of land, property, and investments valued at over £1 billion, when his father became King. Pre-meeting documents stated, "The benefits of the scheme are, when taken together, substantial and wide ranging. In particular, the scheme performs well in respect of providing affordable homes, in addition to directing development to sustainable locations and securing well-designed places."
The documents concluded, "The harm that has been identified is significant but would not outweigh the benefits, let alone significantly and demonstrably outweigh them." Following the approval, Sam Kirkness, executive director for development at the Duchy of Cornwall, said, "This decision brings us closer to unlocking vital new housing to respond directly to Faversham's acute housing needs, as well as providing the infrastructure, green spaces and community facilities that local people in Faversham deserve."
Kirkness added, "The Duchy of Cornwall has a fantastic track record of creating successful neighbourhoods that knit seamlessly into existing towns. We are using this experience to design a new neighbourhood for Faversham that would be among the most sustainable and environmentally friendly in the UK."
