King Charles’ Visionary Communities

Exploring Poundbury, Knockroon, and Nansledan

Poundbury, image courtesy of COVE

King Charles III, long before ascending to the throne, established himself as a passionate advocate for architecture, urban planning, and sustainable living. As Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall, he leveraged his position and resources, most notably the vast landholdings of the Duchy of Cornwall, to create experimental communities that embodied his ideals.

Among these are Poundbury in Dorset, England; Knockroon in Ayrshire, Scotland; and Nansledan in Cornwall, England. These projects reflect his deep-seated belief in traditional architecture, pedestrian-friendly design, and integrated, mixed-use communities. I have wanted for some time to explore the motivations behind these developments, the urban planning and architectural principles they embody, their successes and shortcomings, and the broader lessons they offer for future urban development, supported by scholarly and primary sources.

Motivations: Why King Charles Builds Communities

Charles’s interest in urban development emerged from a profound critique of post-war British urbanism. He famously described a proposed modernist extension to London’s National Gallery as a “monstrous carbuncle” (Charles, 1984), signaling his disdain for the era’s concrete-heavy, car-centric designs. His 1989 book, A Vision of Britain, outlined a philosophy favoring classical architecture, regional identity, and sustainable living (Charles, 1989). He sought to counter the alienation of sprawling suburbs by creating communities that foster social connection and environmental harmony.

There was a lot of push back at the time. It felt like a speech against what we thought of as “modern architecture” at the time. There was a strong element of this. It was a bombshell announcement from the then future monarch. But I think we’d seen in Britain shoddy high rises built in the 1960s and 1970s, where communities had been destroyed together with their homes, in the name of slum clearance, post-war reconstruction and modernity.

With over 200 square miles of Duchy of Cornwall land at his disposal, Charles had a unique platform to test his ideas (Duchy of Cornwall, 2023). His developments were practical experiments, challenging the profit-driven, standardized housing models of large developers. His ecological commitment, which is evident in his advocacy for sustainable energy and local materials, further drove these projects, aligning with his broader environmental ethos (Charles, 2010).

The Developments: Poundbury, Knockroon, and Nansledan

There have been three main developments, each with a different flavour, reflecting local conditions, but each following the same core principles. If you want to enjoy the ultimate road trip, the Google Map shows their location. Knockroon is in Ayrshire, southwest Scotland and Poundbury is in Dorset in southern England. Nasledan, the red pin at the end of the journey, is in Cornwall.