As the situation with the global Covid-19 pandemic develops, the Duchy of Cornwall will continue to update its response in line with all relevant government advice to protect and support the Duchy family.
On 18th March a letter was sent to tenants across England and Wales outlining the new health and safety precautions being undertaken by Duchy staff, including working from home, limiting access to office buildings and virtually assessing property repairs where possible. This message also addressed the significant financial disruption that tenants may face and encouraged any with particular concerns to get in touch with their relevant Land Steward.
This correspondence came alongside a letter from His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales encouraging tenants across the Duchy to access professional help from the estate office and sending his own personal message of support.
On the Isles of Scilly, where there is expected to be significant financial hardship due to the local economy’s reliance on tourism, many Duchy tenants were offered an interest free rent deferral for all payments due between 25th March and 24th June where the annual rent payable is £3,000 or more.
Duchy tenants will also be provided with access to special digital briefings on the coronavirus pandemic.
From March 23rd all Duchy of Cornwall Holiday cottages paused operations until further notice, following government advice for people to remain in their primary residence and not travel to rural areas where local resources would be under extra strain. Guests with pre-existing bookings have been contacted and offered the opportunity to rebook for a future date or the option of taking a full refund. Further details are available on the Duchy of Cornwall Holiday Cottages website.
In Nansledan, a development near Newquay in Cornwall built on Duchy of Cornwall land, residents have organised a community initiative to support vulnerable residents and those in self isolation. Local children are also being encouraged to draw pictures of rainbows and post them in their windows. Read more on the Nansledan website.
Poundbury, the Duchy’s urban extension to Dorchester, has also established its own Community Coronavirus Support Group, as well as a whole programme of initiatives setup by the Poundbury Residents Association. Read more on the Poundbury website.
Every member of staff of the Duchy of Cornwall has had the opportunity to become ‘carbon literate’ as part of the Duchy’s continued commitment to environmental sustainability and our application for status as a Carbon Literate Organisation.
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Exceptionally, last year the Duchy reported a fall in the income generated for The Duke of Cornwall. That £1.83million reduction, a fall of 8.2%, has been reversed this year, and the surplus generated this year is £23.0million, an improvement on the last “normal” year (2019/20). This includes a record spend on property repairs...
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The Duchy has published a full report of greenhouse gas emissions, both from its operations (Scopes 1 and 2) and its full value chain (Scope 3).
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