October 16 2012

The Queen has given her backing to the construction of self-build homes on her Balmoral Estate to give local young people a foot on the housing ladder.

Fields near the Prince of Wales’s retreat at Birkhall on the private Aberdeenshire estate have been earmarked for the purpose with the Prince’s Foundation overseeing the work.

This will see specialist contractors undertake structural work whilst tenants lend a hand on the fit-out.

Hank Dittmar, the Foundations chief executive, said: “The Prince’s Foundation for Building Community is delighted to be working with residents of Ballater, the Balmoral Estate, the Cairngorms National Park Authority and other interested parties to explore a pilot project relating to self-build housing.

“The project stems from a local need that may, in turn, help to demonstrate how self-built homes can increase the supply of housing more widely for people who live and work in rural communities, within a pattern that also complements the sensitive natural environment.”

The Cairngorm National Park stressed that discussions are at an ‘early stage’.

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