A planning dispute has erupted in Poundbury, King Charles's experimental town in Dorset, after homeowners accused the Duchy of Cornwall, owned by Prince William, of "arrogant" behaviour regarding tree plantings that obstruct their rural vistas.
The controversy involves residents who invested substantially to secure properties with unspoilt views across Dorset's countryside, only to discover these outlooks have been compromised by newly installed trees.
The Duchy has sparked particular anger by submitting a retrospective planning application to alter the tree varieties after installation had already occurred.
Affected homeowners describe this approach as demonstrating "sheer arrogance" from the Royal Family's private estate, which manages the development on behalf of King Charles III.
Prince William’s Duchy faces backlash in Dorset as homeowners accuse estate of ‘arrogance’
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The trees in question are bird cherry specimens, capable of reaching heights of 82 feet with spreads extending to 26 feet at maturity.
These substantial plantings were positioned along one roadside during the 2024/25 planting period, effectively establishing what critics describe as a "curtain" of vegetation.
Homeowners on Poundbury's periphery emphasise they specifically chose their properties for the unobstructed rural panoramas, paying premium prices to secure these desirable aspects.
The scale of the bird cherry trees threatens to completely obscure the countryside views that attracted buyers to this particular area of King Charles's experimental town in Dorset.
King Charles and Queen Camilla pictured in Poundbury two years ago
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One homeowner has raised serious concerns after discovering that a tree positioned excessively near his property has rendered his home insurance invalid.
This particular grievance adds to mounting frustration amongst residents who feel the Duchy has acted without proper consultation or consideration for existing property owners.
The retrospective nature of the planning application has intensified tensions, with the Duchy seeking approval to modify the tree species only after completing the planting work during the 2024/25 season.
Residents view this sequence of events as emblematic of an institution that operates with minimal regard for those living within the development it oversees.
Prince William took over the Duchy of Cornwall after Queen Elizabeth II's death. | PALATEST ROYAL NEWS:
Prince William is entitled to the Duchy of Cornwall's annual profits | PAThe model town represents a vision the King developed during the 1980s whilst serving as Prince of Wales, intended as his response to what he perceived as substandard housing developments proliferating throughout Britain.
Poundbury was designed to embody traditionalist architectural principles, offering an alternative to contemporary building practices that the future monarch found objectionable.
The current planning controversy presents an ironic twist, with King Charles's own estate management now facing criticism for decisions that residents argue contradict the careful planning and community consideration that supposedly underpins the Dorset development.
This dispute highlights tensions between the Duchy's administrative decisions and the expectations of those who bought into the royal vision.