Design process

The site for Poundbury, owned by the Duchy of Cornwall since 1342, was selected in 1987 by West Dorset District Council (WDDC) and 2200 houses are on Phase One of the scheme increasing the population of Dorchester by one quarter. In 1988 the Duchy appointed the internationally known designer Leon Krier to create a masterplan for the site, which was given a public airing in 1989 at a community planning weekend, and following adjustments, construction started on site in 1993.

Building plots are sold off separately to developers and are controlled through a legally binding agreement with each developer before the freehold is released. 55 affordable housing units constitute 20% of Phase One, completed in 2002, built by local builder CG Fry for the Guinness Trust housing association.

Roads and paths have been adopted by Dorset County Council, despite non-compliance with its highway standards, and eventually one third of the 160ha site is intended as landscaped open space. The Poundbury Building Code (which largely covers facade design and materials) governs all Phase One buildings, but the Design Guidance, written after Phase One and based on its experience, will apply to all future phases.

Phases 2, 3 and 4 will comprise two-thirds of residential and one third of commercial/community space generating 60,000 sq.m of new floorspace.

The management company, Manco, represents all residents, and was set up to organise the maintenance of open spaces, including communal courtyards and garages, and to manage the scheme after the completion of Phase One.

A raft of legal and management agreements have been applied to control long-term change, including 'The Stipulations', which effectively extends control to matters usually covered under permitted development and outside regular requirements for planning permission. Forming part of both leasehold agreements for affordable housing and legal transfer for freeholds, it is intended, along with the Design Guidance, to prevent unauthorised alterations causing visual disfigurement of the carefully created architectural harmony.

Recent applications for loft extensions, conservatories and car-ports demonstrate the changes residents will want to make to their houses, and will inevitably test the scheme's adaptability and reveal whether the tightly designed and controlled layout and detailing can comfortably meet residents' requirements.

Restrictions in the case of rear extensions (boundary walls to rear parking courts may have to be raised) show some unwillingness by management to consider lessons learnt about clearly overlooked public areas and secure backs. A five year maintenance cycle is imposed for external paintwork.