The waste disposal site could supply heating to villagers in Poundbury

The plant could supply cheap heating to 2,000 homes around Poundbury, the model village the Prince helped to design.

The county council has earmarked the nearby town of Winfrith for the site, to the anger of some residents.

They fear it may harm the surrounding Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Duchy of Cornwall has declined to comment on moving the proposed plant.

Dorset County Council say Winfrith is the only place large enough for the facility, which will stretch over seven acres.

'Lost opportunity'

Sandra Ellis, the chair of Winfrith parish council, told BBC Radio Solent: "If Prince Charles is supposed to be environmentally friendly I'm sure he can donate a field on the outskirts of his land."

Sheila Marshall, who lives next to the proposed Winfrith site, said: "This really seems to us a lost opportunity for putting waste to a good purpose. The heat that is generated could be used to heat Poundbury."

Poundbury, near Dorchester and part of the Duchy of Cornwall Estate, was inspired by the Prince's 1989 book A Vision of Britain and begun in 1993.

The Prince's architect Leon Krier designed the village to give priority to people rather than cars and to provide a mix of housing for different social groups.