Royal Relative Gains Planning Permission for Major Housing Development on Historic Estate
Timothy Knatchbull, the second cousin to King Charles III and grandson of the King's great uncle Lord Mountbatten, has been granted planning permission to construct over 900 homes on his family's sprawling country estate in Hampshire. The decision, recommended by Test Valley Borough Council planning officer Mark Staincliffe, allows for the development of 920 homes and businesses on farmland within the 4,500-acre Broadlands Estate in Romsey, despite significant opposition from local residents and organisations.
Historic Estate with Deep Royal Connections
The Broadlands Estate holds considerable royal significance, having served as the honeymoon destination for both the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1947, and later for King Charles III and his then-wife Princess Diana in 1981. Mr Knatchbull, aged 61, who is also Queen Victoria's great-great-great grandson, leads The Ashfield Partnership consortium behind the development proposals. The consortium initially applied to build 1,100 homes in 2022, but the plans have been scaled back to the current 920-home proposal.
Local Backlash and Infrastructure Concerns
The approval has sparked substantial backlash from neighbours and local groups, with Richard Buss, a 68-year-old freelance film editor who has lived in the area for 35 years, leading the opposition. Mr Buss criticises the developers for allegedly ignoring council requirements to build a footbridge over the adjacent railway line until the 800th house is occupied. He also questions Mr Knatchbull's previous statement about having a 'civic duty' to offer the land, noting that only 10 percent of the homes are planned as affordable housing, well below the council's 40 percent target.
Objections have been formally lodged by multiple entities, including the Environment Agency, Network Rail, the Woodland Trust, Romsey Town Council, and 596 letters from local residents. Concerns centre on flood risks, traffic congestion, and insufficient infrastructure for the proposed development, which would add approximately 2,500 bedrooms to Romsey, potentially increasing the town's population by up to 15 percent.
Planning Officer's Recommendation and Council Decision
In his report, planning officer Mark Staincliffe acknowledged the failure to meet the affordable housing target but recommended approval, citing the scheme's benefits in boosting housing numbers and addressing the national housing crisis. The report concluded that the development aligns with government policy and council land supply needs. However, Mr Buss argues that this approach essentially asks councillors to 'approve the application now and let the officers fix all the problems later,' a sentiment echoed by other residents who fear the plan is not policy-compliant.
Broader Context and Personal History
The Broadlands Estate is owned by the Mountbatten family, with Mr Knatchbull being the grandson of Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India and uncle of Prince Philip. In a tragic chapter of family history, Mr Knatchbull survived an IRA bombing in 1979 that killed his grandfather and his twin brother, Nicholas. The development site is located on land designated for development by Test Valley Borough Council and includes plans for a new primary school, businesses, and a community hall.
The final decision will be made at a council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 24th February, at the Crosfield Hall. Local residents, organised under groups like Romsave, are urging councillors to refuse permission until the application meets all policy requirements and offers tangible benefits to the community. As the largest development of its kind in decades for Romsey, the outcome will have lasting implications for the town's character and infrastructure for generations to come.
