Prince Charles in royal seal of approval to £1bn Aberdeenshire town Prince Charles is backing proposals to build a billion-pound community in Aberdeenshire. It is understood that the prince has viewed blueprints of the plans for the scheme in Chapelton of Elsick, which will be based near Newtonhill. The town would be situated ten miles south of Aberdeen and would provide homes for 9000 families, as well as an extensive range of schools, shops and other amenities. The venture has been likened to Poundbury, a community in Dorset which was built in 1987, in accordance with how the prince thought a modern town should look. The project has provoked some controversy, but David Carnegie, the Earl of Southesk, and the inspiration behind Chapelton, has confirmed the royal interest in the Elsick concept. He said: "I have discussed things with him [Charles] and I have no reason to believe the prince does not support Chapeltown. Were it not for the trail that he blazed with Poundbury, it is quite likely that Chapelton would not be happening. Two thousand acres of farmland, adjacent to Newtonhill, have been earmarked for development in order to bring the Chapelton of Elsick idea to fruition. Six primary schools and a secondary school have also been proposed, with projected costs for the whole venture estimated at around £1bn.