In a rare joint engagement, King Charles, was joined by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner for a visit to the Nansledan development in Newquay, Cornwall. This 540-acre extension of Newquay, envisioned by the King and built on Duchy of Cornwall land, exemplifies sustainable and community-focused urban planning.
The visit was significant not only for its focus on modern housing solutions but also due to the unusual presence of senior political figures alongside the monarch. While it is uncommon for the King to undertake official engagements with government leaders, Downing Street clarified that the visit did not risk drawing the monarch into politics. Instead, the tour highlighted a shared interest in sustainable housing, a cause championed by both Charles and Sir Keir.
The visit was arranged following previous discussions between the King and the Prime Minister about housing developments in the UK. Expressing interest in Nansledan’s community-led design and integration, Sir Keir Starmer accepted Charles’s invitation to tour the site, accompanied by Ms. Rayner, who also serves as UK Housing Secretary.
The King conducted an engagement alongside Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minsiter Angela Rayner. (10 Downing Street)
King Charles has long advocated for sustainable and well-planned communities, with developments such as Nansledan and Poundbury in Dorset serving as models for future housing projects. Sir Keir has also shown a strong interest in modern urban planning, making the visit a key opportunity to explore how new developments can support communities, promote sustainability, and enhance quality of life.
During their tour, the King, Prime Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister visited several key locations within the development, engaging with local residents and organisations.
The first stop was Newquay Orchard, a community-led initiative employing 45 staff, which offers career guidance, wellbeing sessions, and arts programmes. The trio toured the café, community kitchen, and allotments, where they spoke with staff and volunteers about the orchard’s role in supporting the local community.
Charlotte Hill, the Orchard’s Chief Executive added the visit ‘was an opportunity for us to showcase what we do here but it was also an opportunity for the whole Duchy investment in Nansledan to be demonstrated. They have come to look at the other areas of Newquay where that investment is happening. They were very interested to learn where we fit in the Nansledan development and very interested in what we do here supporting people, this being a really important site for the community’.
The King formally opened Nansledan School in 2020 as part of his long-standing commitment to education and sustainability. Today’s visit saw His Majesty return where the King and Sir Keir Starmer observed a physical education class and interacted with students in science and food technology lessons, learning about the school’s approach to hands-on, environmentally conscious learning.
The final visit was to the Kew An Lergh Development, where at the recently opened Nansledan Community Centre, the King, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner met with local business owners, residents, and construction workers. Discussions focused on the progress of the housing project, economic opportunities, and the overall impact of Nansledan on the community.
Charles, Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner visited Kew An Lergh Development. (10 Downing Street)
Nansledan, meaning “broad valley” in Cornish, is designed to be a walkable, mixed-income, and environmentally sustainable development. The project aims to build around 3,700 homes, using local materials such as Cornish slate and adhering to traditional architectural styles that reflect the region’s heritage.
Asked if making today’s visit risked King Charlesbeing dragged into politics, Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman replied: ‘No. Obviously, this project is entirely run by the palace and the Duchy, but the Government has spoken repeatedly on its ambitions on housebuilding, it is a key part of the plan for change to deliver 1.5 million homes, to tackle the housing crisis that we’ve inherited, to drive economic growth across the country.’
A wonderful return to the community of Nansledan! 👋 pic.twitter.com/ckeKqDZdAj
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) February 10, 2025
By bringing together royal vision and government leadership, this visit underscored the importance of innovative urban planning and how well-designed housing projects can enhance communities, improve sustainability, and inspire future developments across the UK.
