Prince William's massive housing expansion sparks local outrage

Prince William is facing major backlash over plans to transform his farmland into a sprawling new estate—including a primary school, healthcare facilities, shops, and 2,500 homes.

The Duchy of Cornwall, the vast property portfolio owned by the future King, is set to develop an area near Brenley Corner, between the M2 and A2, in what’s being promoted as a “sustainable urban extension” of Faversham. The project promises green spaces and environmentally friendly initiatives, but locals aren’t convinced.

Residents are furious, with some calling it the “ruining of our community”.

Local campaigner Peter Williams slammed the project, saying: “The ruining of our community goes on, and our objections remain the same. They’ve done very little to woo the villages that are going to be most affected by this application.”

He further argued that the plan would destroy the green buffer between Faversham and nearby villages: “There is already a green lung between Faversham and the villages, and this application will erode that.”

Meanwhile, Ben Murphy, Estates Director for the Duchy of Cornwall, insists they are open to feedback, saying:

“We have been listening – and we hope that will be the center of this engagement.”

He added: “What we’re saying is ‘you’ve spoken, we’ve listened, we have much more detail to share with you now’ and we’re looking forward to hearing from as many people as possible.”