The King’s plans to build an “ideal town” in Kent have sparked outrage, with some accusing him of “swallowing a historic village into a city”.

The Duchy of Cornwall is proposing to build 2,500 homes on 320 acres of farmland in the medieval market town of Faversham, Kent.

The plans were announced when the then Prince of Wales Charles took charge of the estate in 2018, with the aim of providing the “most sustainable” homes possible while tackling the area’s housing crisis.

However, local residents warned the development, which aims to create an “ideal town” similar to the duchy’s first “urban extension” at Poundbury, is “totally inconsistent” with the monarch’s stance on environmental and agricultural issues, and Unable to and supported by town infrastructure.

Strong opposition was expressed during public consultations following the submission of an application in December last year for consent to start building the first 261 homes, of which 120 will be built each year for 20 years.

The development website said the site, which was acquired by the Principality in 1999 and is located south-east of Faversham, will have “affordable homes designed and built to the same high quality standards, indistinguishable from market homes”.

There will be space for “food outlets and independent retailers, craft makers and producers” as well as a new high street and primary school. “Options are being explored for a nursing home and a range of possible health-related facilities.”

It added: “South East Faversham will be an attractive, modern and enjoyable place where people can live, work, shop and relax. It will be guided by local needs and informed by Faversham Inspiration of character.”

It comes after the plans were put to the Swale Borough Council for comment. telegraph One complainant was reported to have said last week: “The Principality is proposing such a development, only to lose large tracts of high-quality productive agricultural land. This appears to be completely inconsistent with His Royal Highness’s public stance on environmental and agricultural issues.”

Another local voiced their displeasure in a social media campaign group, saying: “There seems to be no end to Prince William and King Charles’ greed! It’s a disgrace that they are posing as environmentalists when in fact they and all Developers, too, are purely in it for the money! What about food security? All this primary and secondary farmland is being concreted over.”

A third resident added: “My family are very proud of the third generation of Duchy farmers who feel shamed and betrayed. There is no honor, just greed. We had hoped the Royals might forget all this, out of good intentions, but It’s all superficial.”

Another said: “Do you really want all our historic villages to be annexed into a single urban agglomeration ‘under your watch’, and so much important agricultural land lost forever?”

A spokesman for the Duchy of Cornwall told independent: “If planning permission is granted, South East Faversham will follow in the footsteps of Poundbury, South Sledan and other sustainable principality developments to become one of the greenest communities in the UK.

“It will prioritize green spaces, sustainable transport and will focus on the needs of the community – including affordable housing and a new primary school as well as new transport infrastructure and health services.

“New green spaces including meadows, orchards, arable land and woodland will mean a 20% increase in biodiversity, while communities focused on sustainable travel and building walkability are expected to reduce biodiversity by 20% compared to similarly sized communities. Car travel. ”

The principality added that at least 400 homes will be on social rent and linked to local incomes, while a further 475 market homes will offer discounts for first-time buyers and shared ownership homes, with priority being given to affordable homes for local people and key workers.