The homes will be built on land at Claish Farm in Callander, one of the most expensive areas to buy a home in Scotland, and managed and owned by Rural Stirling Housing Association.

The development is the National Park’s single biggest affordable housing scheme for a number of years and also represents the first phase within the Callander South area.

The area was identified as the favoured location for the town’s long term growth through extensive community engagement, from the 2011 town ‘charrette’ (a series of design-led workshops) to the preparation of the Local Development Plan more recently. Financial support has also been identified for the wider site’s development within the Stirling and Clackmannan City Region Deal.

Ellen Morton, chair of the National Park’s planning and access committee, said: “Creating more affordable housing within the National Park is a key issue as the area is one of the most expensive places in Scotland to buy a home.

“Many local people, particularly younger, working-age people and families, are finding it increasingly difficult to afford to live and work in the National Park and the need for more affordable housing has been identified by the community and through consultation on the Local Development Plan. This is an important first step in delivering the strategy for Callander South.”

The houses will be built by Lovell Homes but managed and owned by Rural Stirling Housing Association and will include the creation of a pedestrian footway to link to the McLaren Leisure Centre and then onto McLaren High School and the Callander primary school. A new recreational open space with a play area and picnic benches will also be included in the development.

The development will be a mixture of sizes of housing for social rent including three properties with provision for disabled access. An access road from the A81 will also be created and two new bus stops will be installed on the north and south side of the development entrance.