The Prince of Wales has opened a new front against builders by offering to help local communities take on developers who are proposing ugly schemes.

Three decades years after the infamous carbuncle row about modern architecture, Prince Charles is offering to help communities fight inappropriate developments.

The Prince's Foundation, one of Prince Charles' charities, has launched a “Bimby” initiative – standing for "Beauty In My Back Yard” - to offer tips on how to engage with developers in the planning process to ensure that sympathetic homes are built.

The online toolkit is deliberately intended to take on the "Nimby" - “Not In My Back Yard” -attitude towards new development which has seen homeowners fight any development near their homes.

Prince Charles, who is the foundation's president, said: “The key, if I may say so, is how you enhance social, environmental, and of course commercial value in the end of the day.

“So I hope this Bimby process will be of some value to different communities around this country, and I hope very much to see the end results.”

The foundation is now running workshops across the UK to help local communities engage with the initiative.