A Royal Showcase for Poundbury

Background to the Project

As you wander around Poundbury you will see that it is a unique and pioneering development with a distinctive character all of its own. The iconic monument commemorating the Queen Mother in Queen Mother Square, Strathmore House, The Royal Pavilion, Pummery Square and the Buttermarket are just some of the architectural highlights you will come across.

Poundbury is developed on land owned by the Duchy of Cornwall and it was the brainchild of HRH the Prince of Wales to build an urban extension to the historic county town of Dorchester.

It is currently home to some 3,800 people in a mix of private and affordable housing, as well as providing employment for some 2,300 people working in the 200+ shops, cafés, offices and factories.

By the time it is complete in 2025 it is expected that the population of Dorchester will have increased by a quarter – approximately 4,500 people.

Poundbury is close to our hearts as it is the place that Key Digital chose to set up and grow the agency back in 2007. So we were delighted to be asked by the Duchy of Cornwall to develop a new website for Poundbury and showcase this prestigious development.

Our Challenge

A location that has such a close connection with Prince Charles will always be closely scrutinised. Since work started in 1993 it has been held up as a model of urban design and therefore attracts attention from architects, planners and visitors from around the world.

Delegations from all over the world continue to visit Poundbury on tours hosted by the Duchy of Cornwall, to understand how the development works, to witness how the blueprints have turned into reality and how the community has grown.

With those things in mind our project brief was to create a website that:-

• Documented the progress of Poundbury
• Showcases the town planning and architectural principles
• Promotes the thriving community and events that take place
• Encourages and extends the visitor experience

The challenge was to create a modern online experience for a whole of host of different online visitors and establish the website as the official resource for information on Poundbury.

Our Approach

It has been a privilege to work on this project and be trusted by the Duchy of Cornwall to deliver such a high-profile website.

The site was launched to coincide with the ITV documentary – Prince Charles: Inside the Duchy of Cornwall.

Our Results

The new interactive map provides a great way to connect with site visitors and highlight the various phases of Poundbury’s development; and the business directory gives exposure to the local shops and businesses that are established here.

The next phase of the site will include interactive walking tours for visitors to download and help them explore Poundbury in more detail.

 

Key Project Facts