Britain’s Prince Charles has been branded "elitist" after writing a guide for architects.
The 66-year-old royal – who recently issued a plea to town planners to reclaim Britain’s streets "from the car" and change unsightly road signs and tower blocks – has been criticised by architectural experts and even described as "socially regressive".
Professor Alister Scott of Birmingham City University said of the plans – which included a ten point list of principles dictating the importance of "coherence" in designs – to The Independent newspaper: "The combined impact of these principles, when backed up with the examples he uses, is socially regressive and elitist."
He added of the Prince’s plans to shun tower blocks in favour of the pricey mansion builds in the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea: "When he considers the ‘charm and beauty of a place like Kensington and Chelsea’ he sort of forgets that the average price of property is £2,085,950."
However, his plans for reform did attract some support from Swedish architect Fredrik Hellberg, who said: "Hats off for anyone who speaks up, no matter what they are saying."
While Randy Nishimura of the American Institute of Architects added: "I believe he sees the big picture while his critics do not."
Charles published his 2,000-word plea in the The Architectural Review, in which he also raised concerns about the future of the planet and the "terrifying prospect" of the growing population.
He wrote: "My concern is the future. We face the terrifying prospect by 2050 of another three billion people on this planet needing to be housed, and architects and urban designers have an enormous role to play in responding to this challenge."
Britain’s Prince Charles branded ‘elitist’
