About Poundbury
Poundbury is an urban extension to Dorchester, the county town of Dorset. It is being built out to meet the expansion requirements of the town and to accord with the principles of sustainable development laid down by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales in his book ‘A Vision of Britain’.
Over the period 1993-2025, 2,500 dwellings will be built together with 125,000m2 (1,350, 000 ft2) of employment space. The development is integrated with affordable housing (35%), mixed amongst private residential housing. There is also a variety of businesses offering employment opportunities and facilities within walking distance of homes.
Poundbury has an international reputation as an exemplar project, integrating employment within a residential neighbourhood. It is accommodating an increasing number of businesses, with over 2,100 people working in factories, offices and shops by the commencement of 2016. Poundbury is the base of important businesses such as Dorset Cereals and the House of Dorchester Chocolates.
The quality of environment is based upon traditional architecture and the use of natural materials, with high levels of workmanship, distinguishing Poundhury from more conventional developments. There is an emphasis on the public realm. Residents take a strong sense of pride in their new community. The Duchy of Cornwall regulates maintenance and alterations to protect the environment from degradation and disrepair.
Dorchester is at the centre of transport infrastructure in Dorset, with two railway stations with direct links to London and Bristol. Poundbuny, 2 kilometres west of the town centre, benefits from proximity to the Dorchester Bypass and modern purpose built infrastructure.
Commercial premises are built to meet modern standards, with high BREEAM ratings, plentiful car parking and regular bus service connections to Dorchester town centre. There is a BT fibre optic connection to the site to accelerate IT connectivity. The mixed-use nature of the site supports a variety of everyday facilities close to the commercial premises, including restaurants, cafés, food and wine merchants, hairdressers, medical and other facilities.
Commercial occupiers often have the opportunity to procure purpose built premises which conform to the Poundbury Design Guidance. Other premises are built by the major developers and are available to shell or fitted completion. Units vary between 500ft.2 and 35,000ft.2.
The range of commercial properties extends from small workshops, offices and shops to factories and larger retail units. For specific requirements direct enquiries are invited to the Duchy of Cornwall offices, website and email address, Duchy commercial agents, and the developers listed below:-
