Nansledan, Cornwall
Urban extension to Newquay
Building on the principles that underly Poundbury and taking them a step further.
The concept for this significant urban extension, that relates architecturally to the existing town of Newquay, was developed with the benefit of extensive public consultation.
A development for 174 homes at Tregunnel Hill preceded permission for Nansledan, which is several times the size. The urban infill scheme on the southwestern edge of the centre of Newquay demonstrated the Duchy’s commitment to better place-making as well as to the provision of local employment. The success of the masterplan and residential buildings proved that the principles would work on the bigger site.
The aspiration of the Duchy of Cornwall, which will retain a long-term interest in the 218.4 hectare site at Nansledan, is to create an exemplary, dense, mixed use, mixed tenure, sustainable extension that is distinctively Cornish in character and closely tailored to the needs of the local community. It has also acted as a catalyst to diversify and strengthen the local economy, with a minimum of one job per household being created.
Affordable housing came high on the priority list for local people. As a result, 30% of the Nansledan development is affordable, with low-cost rental homes scattered among more expensive, owner-occupied homes. Crucially, the homes are tenure-blind, with no visible difference between the two types of housing.
Site plan
01 — Nansledan high street
“The deep commitment to affordable housing in prominent locations was a critical factor and the foundation of our interest. However, it was the broader commitments – the integration of passive sustainability, economic strategies, broad collaboration, local traditional form and thoughtful design – that truly demonstrate how Nansledan can be a compelling representation of where American development needs to go.”
– Eric Osth, principal at Urban Design Associates and an ICAA Board Member
A consortium of developers was forged with three privately owned regional house builders to help ensure that the long-term best value is achieved for the development. Local supply chains, with local materials and resources used wherever possible, were established at the outset to ensure that the economic growth generated by the development is enjoyed by the surrounding area, and that the character of Nansledan reflects the local identity.
Facilities include a district centre and multiple local centres, a primary school, GP surgery, care homes and significant green infrastructure. A total of 4,000 units is included in the overall masterplan, with phases of about 100 units per year being built over a 40-year period. Work started on site in 2013.
Nansledan has won numerous accolades and awards. In 2025 it was awarded the Gindroz Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing from the New York-based Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, proving that its principles have caught the attention of the Americans.
In 2026 it was awarded a CNU Charter Award at Merit level. Presented annually by the Congress for New Urbanism, the Charter Awards recognise outstanding achievements in urban design and placemaking. Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious honours in the field, the awards celebrate projects that create vibrant, sustainable communities where people truly enjoy living.
Houses are designed to be tenure blind
Green infrastructure is key to the success of the project
Hugh Graham, senior property writer at The Sunday Times praised Nansledan after he revisited the development in 2025. He noted that the mix of shops, the construction of the Market Hall to showcase Cornwall’s food producers, and a Tesco supermarket are all further signs that the town is flourishing and living up to its walkability credentials.
“A game-changer was the opening of a stone bridge in May [2025], designed in a traditional Victorian style by Petter [...] Business has picked up at Sazi, a Middle Eastern deli on the high street, since the opening of the bridge.”
Stone bridge designed by Hugh Petter and described by The Sunday Times as “a game-changer”
Drawing of an aerial view
Aerial view
PartnerHugh PetterSectorUrban DesignLocationCornwall, United KingdomCOLLABORATORS
Client, Duchy of Cornwall
Masterplan, ADAM Architecture, Leon Krier, Colum Mulhern & The Prince’s Foundation
Developers, CG Fry, Morrish Homes & Wainhomes