In his long wait to become Britain's king, Prince Charles has pursued his passion for architecture. His latest brainchild is a new neighbourhood in a deprived area of Cornwall in England's southwestern corner.

"Nansledan" ("Broad Valley" in Cornish) is an extension of the seaside resort of Newquay, popular with surfers and young revellers, and aims to provide environmentally friendly housing and give a shot in the arm to the former mining region's economy.

"We are looking to create a viable community... we will be building a school, we're building a church, offices, shops," said Alastair Martin, from The Duchy of Cornwall, the prince's estate.

With an architectural focus on combining tradition and modernity, the new one- and two-storey houses line neat streets with Cornish names.