Queen to Build Low-Cost Housing Project at Balmoral

by Tom Sykes Oct 15, 2012 9:37 AM EDT

Families to help in build to 'keep costs down'.

The Queen's always had a bit of the socialist about her, but still, the news that she is seeking to develop some land at her Scottish estate, Balmoral, to be earmarked for development for social housing projects, comes as something of a surprise.

However, the Daily Telegraph's Mandrake column is claiming today that the monarch wants to allow land at Balmoral, her privately owned 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," says the Telegraph, adding that the houses would be 'part-built by the families themselves' to help keep costs down.

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Tom Sykes is a writer and journalist, and he edits The Royalist blog for the Daily Beast. Tom has worked for many publications, including a stint as a nightlife reporter and gossip columnist for the New York Post. He has written several books, most recently helping John Taylor of Duran Duran write and edit his autobiography, published by Dutton. Tom lives in London and Ireland.

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About the Author

Tom Sykes

THE ROYALIST, updated several times daily, reports on all aspects of the British Royal Family. With breaking news and the latest gossip, great pictures and informed commentary, the Royalist is essential eyeballing for fans of the world’s most famous family.