Prince Charles visited an affordable housing development in a west Dorset village today (Tuesday), which resident say he was very impressed with.

The Prince of Wales paid a visit to Forge Orchard in Powerstock as well as dropping in on his Poundbury estate.

This is a new development of eight affordable homes built as a result of a partnership between Powerstock & District Community Land Trust (PDCLT) and rural housing specialist Hastoe Housing Association.

The Prince of Wales flew in, landing just outside the village, with a car bringing him to the development.

He was greeted by Angus Campbell, Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, and introduced to residents living at the development, members of the PDCLT and representatives of Hastoe amongst others.

He was then shown around the home of Patrick and Susan O’Dowd, who live in one of the eight houses.

Mr O’Dowd, who is an ex-guardsman, said: “He was very impressed.

“We showed him this, that and the other and it was charming, absolutely wonderful, and we showed him the garden, he was very impressed with that.

“I presented him with a couple of books that had been written locally by the people of the parish that were involved in the First World War. It’s only two small books, but he was very appreciative.

“It’s absolutely fantastic, its not often we see royalty and me being an ex-guard I’ve seen a bit of them all. Its incredible to think he’s come here.”

Prince Charles was then shown around the home of Charlie Bell.

He said: “He asked about what we did, had a look around. It’s a bit surreal, he was a very nice bloke, very relaxed.”

He then planted an apple tree with another resident, Matt Frampton, during which he shook a branch and said good luck, something it is understood he does every time.

He said: “He was very impressed with the area, he likes it around here and he was impressed with how the tree looked and made a comment about cider in the future.

“It’s nice to think that we can be thought of, little Powerstock in the middle of nowhere.”

Members of PDCLT said the visit was a validation of around seven years work and it was good to be promoting the profile of community land trusts, giving people more understanding of the values of the group and how they work, which would hopefully mean other communities would not have to wait seven years to have affordable housing.

Forge Orchard offers a mix of one-three bedroom houses and a one-bedroom bungalow, all the homes have been prioritised for local people and available for affordable rent. 

Forge Orchard has been designed to reflect a farmyard conversion. All the materials used were carefully selected to meet the requirements of the conservation area. Native trees and hedges are being planted to match those already in the area and Hastoe Housing Association has provided residents with a fruit tree to plant in their garden, if they would like it.

The Crutchley Estate has allocated residents with allotment spaces elsewhere in the village. The ecological zone provides areas of landscaping that contribute towards the ecology of the area. 

The PDCLT was created in 2012 with the aim of transforming the site, most recently a disused builder’s yard, into additional affordable housing for local people in the village. With the support of Wessex Community Assets, the Community Land Trust purchased the land from the privately owned Crutchley’s Estate for a nominal fee. Hastoe was then selected to develop and manage the homes on the Trust’s behalf. 

Designed by Etchingham Morris Architecture and built in partnership with contractors Classic Builders and employer’s agent Frazer Garner Associates, the new homes were completed in February.