The Duchy of Cornwall’s recent series of community engagement events across Faversham attracted nearly 500 residents, who came to learn more about plans for the proposed South East Faversham neighbourhood.

The Duchy says the majority of attendees welcomed the vision for a thoughtfully designed, sustainable new neighbourhood - one that puts local housing needs first and promises lasting benefits for the wider community.

Held throughout February and March, the series included 17 coffee mornings, pop-up events and bookable one-to-one sessions. In total, over 13,000 households were invited to attend.

Residents were able to sit down for one-to-one discussions with the Duchy’s project team at coffee mornings - including experts in housing, sustainability, biodiversity, education, and transport – to ask questions and explore the proposals in depth.

Ben Murphy, Estates Director at the Duchy of Cornwall, said, "We are deeply grateful to everyone who attended our events, shared their views and asked thoughtful questions. These conversations showed there is strong support for our long-term approach. They also helped to clear up any misunderstandings and we were encouraged to see many people who arrived with concerns leave feeling more positive. We remain committed to working closely with the Faversham community to create a place that truly reflects their priorities."

Below is a summary provided by the Duchy of Cornwall following the recent engagement with residents:

The majority of people were positive about the plans and told us they felt this was the best scheme to bring forward the much-needed homes.

Why? Because the detail we were able to share helped show how the neighbourhood responds to Faversham’s needs and offers real, long-term benefits for the community.

Thank you for joining us

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at an event. We had some fantastic conversations, listened to your concerns and answered a wide range of questions.

Many of you said how much you appreciated the opportunity to speak one-on-one with the team and get clear, transparent information. We know some people arrived with concerns, often shaped by misinformation, and left feeling more reassured after speaking with the Duchy.

You asked important questions about key aspects of the proposals, including why some difficult choices, like building on agricultural land, have been necessary.

The key questions and comments raised can be viewed here, along with our responses which aim to offer clarity, address common misconceptions and provide open answers.

CLICK HERE TO SEE A LARGER VERSION OF THE ABOVE MAP

A preferred choice for Faversham

It was encouraging to hear that many residents trust the Duchy to deliver the homes Faversham needs - recognising the care and attention behind a high-quality, sustainable development guided by local needs and inspired by the character of Faversham.

Most people felt this is the best scheme for Faversham and it will deliver long-term benefits for the town and its community.

Let’s keep the conversation going!

We’ve really enjoyed and valued the chance to engage with you, clear up misunderstandings and provide clarity on key topics. These conversations have been incredibly important and we look forward to continuing them.

There will be further coffee mornings at The Alexander Centre, Preston St, Faversham on Saturday 7 June (10am to 12pm) and Friday 4 July (11am to 1pm).

For more information, visit the official website here or email hello@sefaversham.co.uk.