The Duke of Cornwall visits Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Published 10 May 2024

Visit to Cornwall

The Duke of Cornwall has visited Nansladen in Newquay where The Duchy of Cornwall’s first ever innovative housing project to help address homelessness will be built, before spending time at Fistral Beach where he heard from local organisations who are working to keep the beach safe for all those who enjoy it.

His Royal Highness then made his first official visit to the Isles of Scilly since becoming Duke of Cornwall in September 2022. During his time on St. Mary’s, the Duke met representatives from local businesses on the harbour front and paid a visit to St. Mary’s Medical Centre.

Nansladen, Newquay

The Duke of Cornwall has visited Nansledan to see the site of the Duchy of Cornwall’s first ever innovative housing project to help address homelessness.

Announced earlier this year, the project will be delivered alongside Cornish charity, St Petrocs, and will provide 24 homes with wrap around support for local people experiencing homelessness. Land for the homes will be provided by the Duchy of Cornwall which will also use its design and development management expertise to guide the delivery of the project as a whole. This transformative approach is inspired by Homewards – a five-year programme led by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales to show that it is possible to end homelessness.

Construction is set to begin in September 2024 and the first homes are due for completion in autumn 2025. The innovation the Duchy has embedded into the design will mean that the homes will be built to Passivhaus standards of energy efficiency and sustainability.

The first phase will focus on creating high quality temporary accommodation that feels like home with a clear pathway to a permanent home as accommodation becomes available. St Petrocs will also be helping resident harness the benefits of an active and growing community in Nansledan where training and employment pathways exist, alongside more permanent housing solutions.

Fristal Beach, Newquay

The Duke of Cornwall then travelled to Fistral Beach, where he met representatives from local organisations who are working to promote safety in the sea and across the beach area, ahead of the forthcoming summer months.

His Royal Highness first spent time with Holywell Bay and Newquay Surf Life Saving Clubs which trains and supports volunteers to save lives and prevent drowning in open water. Surf Life Saving Clubs around the country educate young people from the age of seven to keep themselves safe and to help others in difficulty.

The Duke then met lifeguards and staff from the RNLI, who provide a seasonal service to Fistral Beach, to hear about the work they are doing to keep local people and tourists safe as they get set to enjoy the summer season.

St. Mary’s Harbour, Isles of Scilly

On the second day of his trip to the South West, the Duke of Cornwall visited St. Mary’s Harbour on the Isles of Scilly to meet representatives from local businesses operating in the area.

The harbour is run by The Duchy of Cornwall, which handles all types of vessels and boats travelling to the Isles of Scilly, making it a crucial part of the community and a hub for the vital tourism industry across the islands.

His Royal Highness also met harbour operators as well as local people from businesses on St. Mary’s, hearing from them about life on the islands and how they are preparing for the summer season, which sees approximately 100,000 visitors come to the islands each year.

St. Mary’s Community Hospital, Isles of Scilly

The Duke of Cornwall then travelled to St. Mary’s Community Hospital to meet staff and hear about a new integrated health and social care facility which is set to be built on adjacent land owned by the Duchy of Cornwall.

The small hospital provides both inpatient and outpatient clinics serving the Isles of Scilly and works closely with the NHS paramedic services on the islands, providing wraparound care to island residents and visitors.

His Royal Highness first met hospital staff and discussed the challenges of delivering healthcare in an island setting before meeting with representatives from the local Council who are working with the Duchy of Cornwall to make the new healthcare facility a reality.