Prince William has launched a £250,000 fund for the community of Princetown, following the closure of HMP Dartmoor. The prison, a category C facility, ceased operations in July 2024 after the discovery of high levels of radon gas in prisoner accommodations, which led to formal censure proceedings against prison officials.
The Duchy of Cornwall had signed a £37 million agreement in 2022 to lease the prison to the Ministry of Justice, with an annual rental income of £1.5 million over 25 years. Prince William, as Duke of Cornwall, has decided to stop personally benefiting from this income, opting instead to reinvest it into the Princetown community.
"Prince William knows that for many people in Princetown, the prison has long been part of the fabric of the community," said Ian Patrick, Prince William's private secretary. "Its closure has created genuine uncertainty, not just about jobs and businesses, but about the future of the town itself. The duke felt strongly that, while those questions remain unanswered, the benefit of this income should remain in the community, helping local people shape that future."
This initiative is part of a broader plan by the Duchy of Cornwall to invest over £500 million in communities, housing, renewable energy, farming, and environmental projects over the next decade. The newly established fund aims to provide support and foster development within Princetown as it navigates the economic and social changes resulting from the prison's closure.
