16 October 2012
Her Majesty the Queen has expressed an interest in allowing land at her Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire to be used for low-cost properties to help local people get a foot on the housing ladder.
Land has been earmarked near the Prince of Wales’s retreat at Birkhall for the unique development, which is being overseen by Hank Dittmar, the chief executive of the Prince’s Foundation for Building Community. The houses would be part-built by local families themselves to help keep costs down.
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Mr Dittmar 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, within a pattern that also complements the sensitive natural environment.”
The Queen gave Prince Charles exclusive use of Birkhall after the death of the Queen Mother in 2002. The Prince is known for holding strong views on the merits of traditional architecture and has been involved in several pioneering housing projects; the best known of which is Poundbury, in Dorset. The site close to Dorchester was built to a traditional high-density urban pattern and focused on creating an integrated community of shops, businesses, and private and social housing.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “A consultation process has begun regarding provision of low-cost housing in the Ballater area and discussions are at a very early stage.”
Terrific precedent
Ted Stevens, chairman of the National Self Build Association, welcomed the news.
“It is setting a terrific precedent, which will hopefully inspire other major philanthropic landowners,” he says. “Twice as many building societies are now lending to self-builders than a year ago, but the biggest hurdle is still getting the land.”
“If you look back in history, there are some fantastic examples of big companies making land available for model villages, such as at Bournville and Port Sunlight,” says Stevens. “It would be great to see companies follow this example today, using land in a way that can benefit the local community, such as through community land trusts.”
