Eton College, the prestigious private school based in Berkshire, has unveiled plans to construct a new town. The proposed development is intended to follow the architectural and urban design principles established at Poundbury, a project championed by King Charles III. The site selected for this project is located approximately 60 miles away from the school's historic campus.

The announcement has been met with significant public backlash. Critics have raised concerns regarding the scale of the development and the involvement of a private educational institution in large-scale property development. While the school has framed the project as an exercise in sustainable community building, opponents argue that the project is controversial due to its distance from the school and the potential impact on local infrastructure and housing markets.

There is currently a lack of consensus regarding the specific scope of the project, as the school has yet to release granular details regarding the number of housing units or the timeline for construction. The Independent reports that the reaction has been characterized by widespread anger, though the specific demographics or groups driving this opposition remain broadly defined in early reporting. As the planning process moves forward, the school faces the challenge of reconciling its educational mission with its role as a major landholder and developer in the region.