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A private estate established in 1337 which funds the public, charitable and private activities of the Prince of Wales and his family. (Some information on this website may be out-of-date following the death of Queen Elizabeth)

Poundbury

Poundbury is an urban extension to the Dorset county town of Dorchester, built on the principles of architecture and urban planning as advocated by HM King Charles, III,  in ‘A Vision of Britain’.

Poundbury reflects four key principles: 

 This approach challenges some of the planning assumptions of the latter part of the 20th century. As Poundbury has developed, it has demonstrated that there is a genuine alternative to the way in which we build new communities in the UK.

“Poundbury is currently home to approximately 3,800 people in a mix of private and affordable housing. The community also provides employment for over 2,300 people and is home to 207 businesses.”

Since building began in 1993, Corner of brick building showing Vickery StreetPoundbury has proved increasingly influential, attracting international interest and generating many organised tours every year. These include architects, town planners, academics, house builders and land owners. The success has been recognised far beyond Dorset and many of the founding principles of Poundbury have now been incorporated into the British Government’s Planning Policy.

Football field at Poundbury showing trees and town in the distance

Young lady walking through Woodlands Crescent park

Poundbury, Dorset

In 2010 and 2018, Dorset County Council completed Economic Impact Assessments of Poundbury. The 2018 report concluded that the Poundbury development is already contributing over £98 million per annum in demand for goods and services to the local economy (GVA). The construction work itself will have generated some £236 million by completion in 2026.

Download the Poundbury Economic Impact Assessment here.

Download the Poundbury Factsheet here.

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Poundbury

Poundbury

Poundbury is an urban extension to the Dorset county town of Dorchester, built on the principles of architecture and urban planning as advocated by The Prince of Wales in ‘A Vision of Britain’.

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Dartmoor & Princetown

Dartmoor & Princetown

Most of the 27,300 hectares that make up Dartmoor have been owned by the Duchy since its creation in 1337, and in modern times it is agriculture rather than mineral extraction that dominates the use of the land.

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Hereford

Hereford

The Hereford Estates incorporate The Guy's Estate and The Cradley Estate, the latter purchased in 1991 from The Mercantile and General Reinsurance Company.

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