Duchy's Cornwall's Housing Plan Sparks Controversy

0:00On March 27, the Duchy of Cornwall's plan to build hundreds of homes on farmland in Southeast Bavisham has sparked major controversy. Swell-Burrow Council approved the project earlier this month in an 11-5 vote, despite 467 objections from locals. The development targets land off-selling road near Junction 7 of the M2, which the Duchy bought back in 1999. This isn't the Duchy's first such effort. They're drawing comparisons to their Palmberry project in Dorset, which started in 1993 and won't wrap up until 2028. Locals worry about a similar slow rollout here, potentially stretching over 30 years and disrupting daily life with constant construction. Residents are upset over losing green spaces used for dogwalking and community sports. The plan will remove Favisham Town Football Club's training ground and a local cricket pitch, with a replacement squeezed into the new build. Many feel overlooked in the process as planning details haven't reached everyone.

1:01Farmers renting the land express disappointment through their association, though they're glad to get first dives on buying their holdings before innings, outside sales. On the flip side, some backers praise the project for tackling the areas housing crunch and providing social homes as a model for others. Meanwhile, the Duchy says it's rebalancing its portfolio to maximize social and environmental benefits, aiming to deliver long-term gains for the community. I'm Corey with The Story. That's your entertainment and celebrity news-to-day update, AI-powered and always trending.