The Prince’s Foundation is turning its hands to housebuilding for the mass market, with the announcement that it will build its first homes with developer Dorchester Group.

Heyford Park in Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire will be the first site to have the buildings, with work expected to start next year. Outline planning permission for 1,000 homes on the site has already been granted and detailed plans are now being prepared.

The homes will conform to the Prince’s House system “design principles and standards.

Hank Dittmar, chief executive of the Prince’s Foundation, said: “This new licensing approach with the Dorchester Group means that we offer these houses to the public, and offer families the opportunity to live in a Prince’s House that is not only green, but comfortable and beautiful.”

He added that the foundation was “confident” that further licenses would be signed, allowing Prince’s homes to be built throughout the UK.