Affordable homes to be built by royal appointment

The Queen has confirmed plans to build 16 affordable homes on a portion of her Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire.

The hamlet will be built on a field near Ballater in the Cairngorms national park, providing affordable housing options for local residents. Plans will be developed in conjunction with future tenants who currently live in shared or sheltered housing nearby.

Chief Executive of the Prince's Foundation for Building Community, Hank Dittmar will be overseeing proceedings. Mr Dittmar is keen to ensure that the development is in-keeping with the surrounding area.

He said: “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."