Prince Charles has won planning approval for a £3m manor house, but he neither he or his sons will be living there.

he Prince of Wales has been given planning permission to build a £3m manor house on the site of the former Harewood Park Mansion in Herefordshire. The manor house, designed by Craig Hamilton Architects, will be the centrepiece of a scheme to regenerate the estate, which is owned by the Prince’s Duchy of Cornwall.

DEFRA grants will pay for some of the work being done on the surrounding parkland, but no public money will be used in the construction of the six-bedroom manor house.

When planning permission was applied for in October, there was immediate speculation that the property would become Prince William’s country retreat when it is completed in 2010. Although a spokesman for the Duchy said the manor – which is less than an hour’s drive from Highgrove, Prince Charles’ own country residence – would be let, it is seen as an ideal residence for his older son.