King Charles’ legacy: We should harness his design philosophy for our wider benefit.

At the conclusion of his article he provides a list of what might today be considered the accepted principles of sustainable development, including: developments should be designed to fit within the landscape they occupy; buildings should relate to human proportions to minimise opportunities for isolation and fragmentation; provide enclosure to encourage walking and feel safer; achieving communal benefits through density; flexibility to accommodate change; and putting the pedestrian at the centre of the design process.

His views clearly go way beyond the specifics of architectural styling (of which Poundbury is commonly critiqued for) and represent a serious attempt to tackle the challenges of urban growth.  These principles today feel entirely mainstream; take a look at the National Design Guide for instance.  His principles are commonplace in the text of modern Local Plans, setting policy and masterplanning expectations for new developments up and down the country.  It makes one wonder whether he was in fact ahead of his time when it comes to the built environment. 

That these principles are now reflected in everyday planning shows that it needn’t be difficult nor require lofty aspiration or deep pockets to achieve good quality design.  But policy itself won’t deliver well designed places.  With his capacity as monarch to express views publicly now substantially reduced, it means that built environment professionals will require a solid understanding of these principles in order to advocate and deliver these objectives for our wider benefit.