Poundbury is an experimental new town or urban extension located on the outskirts of Dorchester in the county of Dorset. While it was initiated by architect Léon Krier, it’s the keen endorsement of the Prince of Wales on which the land is built.
The land is in the Duchy of Cornwall and was selected for development in 1987 when the decision was made to expand the town of Dorchester. New classical architect and Driehaus Prize winner Léon Krier was hired a year later to design the development.
Poundbury has been built in accordance with principles endorsed by the Prince of Wales. The Prince is known for his strong views on challenging post-war trends in town planning that were suburban in character.
The design of Poundbury is based on traditional architecture. Since construction started in 1993, it has been praised for echoing traditional local design features and reviving the low-rise streetscape built to a human scale. However, Poundbury has not reduced car use as it was originally intended which has led to criticism.
The Prince isn’t the only member of the royal family to leave his mark on Poundbury. Tourist attractions are centered around Queen Mother Square in which there is a statue of The Queen Mother. In 2016, a pub named the Duchess of Cornwall Inn was opened in honour of the Prince’s wife, Camilla.
Poundbury is expected to house up to 6,000 people and provide about 2,000 people with jobs in more than 180 businesses. It’s expected the northwest quadrant of Poundbury will be the last built before the town’s completion in 2025.
