Call for prince's plan to put jobs ahead of design

Published on 15/11/2007 00:35

SUSTAINABLE jobs, not picture-perfect architecture, emerged as a top priority at a first meeting on the "Scottish Poundbury" housing and business development planned in East Ayrshire.

The scheme is to be built on 50 acres just outside Cumnock acquired by Prince Charles when he underwrote the 45 million purchase of the historic Dumfries House for the nation.

In a first public meeting on the plans, which drew an estimated 150 people, several residents demanded that the Prince of Wales' Foundation for the Built Environment outline what jobs would be created.

Cumnock lost thousands of jobs to mine closures and the area remains economically depressed.

"One question was, we've got houses and we've got factories, but what we need is jobs," said Craig Winning of Cumnock.

The development land is called Knockroon, after a nearby farm.

Poundbury, the much-mocked development in Dorset, was designed by Prince Charles using traditional architecture. Backers say it created jobs through factories for chocolates computer components.

A spokeswoman for the prince's foundation said at the meeting: "The general consensus was that the priority for the new development was that it should provide sustainable jobs."

The hand-over of Dumfries House and its exquisite Chippendale and Scottish furniture collection takes place this month.

It is expected to open to the public next year.