Neighbour row as King Charles’s second cousin sparks fury over plans to build hundreds of homes on family estate
Timothy Knatchbull, a descendant of Queen Victoria and second cousin to King Charles III, has sparked fury over his plans for a major new housebuilding prokect.
The 61-year-old is Lord Mountbatten’s grandson and owns the 4,500-acre Broadlands Estate near Romsey.
And he has now had plans for 920 homes on farmland at the southern edge of the town approved by Test Valley Borough Council.
The decision has sparked significant opposition from his neighbours.
Richard Buss, who has lived nearby for 35 years, is spearheading the campaign against the scheme.
Some 596 local residents have submitted letters opposing the plans.
The scheme has also drawn objections from multiple organisations including the Environment Agency, Network Rail, the Woodland Trust and Romsey Town Council.
Mr Buss has criticised the planning process, claiming the planning officer has asked councillors to “approve the application now and let the officers fix all the problems later”.
He argues that developers are failing to meet the council’s requirement for a footbridge over the adjacent railway line.
Mr Knatchbull he has now had plans for 920 homes on farmland at the southern edge of the town approved
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The planning report indicates this bridge cannot be constructed until the 800th home is occupied.
The approved scheme also includes a new primary school, commercial premises and a community hall.
If completed, the development would add approximately 2,500 bedrooms to Romsey.
This could increase the town’s population by as much as 15 per cent.
Mr Buss has also questioned Mr Knatchbull’s earlier claim of a “civic duty” to offer the land, noting the proposal now includes just 10 per cent affordable housing.
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Timothy Knatchbull owns the 4,500-acre Broadlands Estate near Romsey in Hampshire
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He said: “There are so many issues to be resolved yet councillors are expected to grant permission for fear of appeal from the developer if they don’t.”
Another local, Linda Pennells, said: “If this application cannot viably deliver the full level of affordable housing, infrastructure, environmental mitigation, and community facilities required to make it acceptable in planning terms, then this proposed outline application must be refused.”
While Jeffrey Clark voiced his fears of traffic, warning that 920 homes would mean approximately 1,800 extra cars on roads already struggling with congestion.
Mr Knatchbull survived an IRA bombing in 1979 that claimed the lives of his grandfather and twin brother Nicholas.
PICTURED: Timothy Knatchbull with the then-Prince and Princess of Wales in 2015
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The Broadlands Estate holds deep royal significance, having hosted the honeymoons of both Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1947, and King Charles with Princess Diana in 1981.
Mr Knatchbull is leading a consortium called The Ashfield Partnership, which submitted the development proposal.
The group initially sought permission for 1,100 homes when it applied in 2022, but the plans have since been reduced.
Planning officer Mark Staincliffe’s report acknowledged the scheme fails to deliver 40 per cent affordable housing – but recommended it go ahead, citing the need to boost housing numbers.
