News
The Prince of Wales visits a London community being helped by The Prince's Foundation
27th January 2012
The Prince of Wales set out his vision for community building today as he visited a vibrant district in the capital being given a design boost by his charity The Prince's Foundation for Building Community, formerly known as The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment.
His Royal Highness toured one of the main shopping areas around Waterloo station to meet traders and business people who will benefit from the work of the royal's organisation that was rebranded today.
The Prince was mobbed by shoppers as he walked down Lower Marsh, a street close to the major rail terminus where retailers feel they have been overlooked by the thousands of commuters who visit a popular nearby theatre and restaurant district.
The Prince's Foundation for Building Community, which has changed its name to more accurately reflect the charity's work, has been helping to create a new sustainable vision to enhance the Waterloo area.
The Prince was joined by foundation ambassador Kirstie Allsopp, co-presenter of the Channel 4 property show Location, Location, Location and supporter of traditional British crafts, during his tour around the station.
Speaking later at the foundation's annual conference at St James's Palace, His Royal Highness said: "As I walked around Waterloo, it was rather extraordinary to think that it was over 25 years ago I first started on what turned out to be an extremely lonely road towards establishing my foundation so that we could tackle the lost art of community building.
"I believed then, as I do now, that the nature of the built environment significantly determines our quality of life.
"I have long been concerned about an under-appreciation of the effect that the way we plan and build our towns and cities has on people's physical and mental well-being.
"My foundation was established to foster that crucial dimension of spirit and human feeling in our thinking, designing and practice that had been so lacking in post-war development."
The foundation has followed The Prince's belief in traditional forms of architecture, with buildings constructed with sustainable, locally sourced materials, combined with new innovations, by craftsmen and women employed locally.
The Prince's charity is helping to create settlements across the UK and around the world from the Galapagos Islands to Caithness in Scotland.
The Prince told delegates at the conference that the settlement was not universally welcomed when building work began: "At the time, I am afraid to say that not everyone warmed to the principles of timeless sustainable design.
"Yet listening to the wisdom of local people and planning in a way that took local identity and environmental responsibility into account, is now reaping remarkable rewards."
Earlier as The Prince walked down Lower Marsh dozens of shoppers stopped to shake hands and chat with His Royal Highness who quickly became surrounded by a throng of people as he slowly made his way down the street.
The Prince's Foundation was commissioned by the board of Waterloo Quarter Business Improvement District (BID) to produce a series of recommendations on the sustainable development of the area.
A website developed by the charity, in partnership with the BID, canvassed the views of the community, who indicated they wanted to build on the district's cultural attractions so it becomes a hub for local businesses and residents.
The Prince stopped at stalls that were part of a food street market and chatted to staff selling Moroccan produce and another displaying dishes from Senegal.
His Royal Highness also visited the premises of David Fullerton who runs a bespoke tailors and whose clients include London theatre actors - including Kevin Spacey, the artistic director of the Old Vic - and television productions.
Commenting on the royal visit, David said: "I think it's very uplifting for the area, he's got that down to earth thing and he's a guy interested in what people do - hence The Prince's Trust."
Asked about The Prince's suit he added: "He wears The Prince of Wales check and double breasted suits - he does a lot for tailoring.
"Everybody wears jeans but he dresses very well and is a contrast to all those designer clothes."
Hank Dittmar, Chief Executive of the newly named Prince's Foundation for Building Community, said the change more accurately reflected the charity's work.
He added: "Our old name was the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment - I'm still struggling to understand what the built environment is.
"But it was a good name when our primary focus was educating architects and urbanists and working with other professionals.
"Over the last few years we've found ourselves more and more engaged with communities on the ground and more and more engaged with issues about making decent homes, lovely gardens, interiors and craft."