Save us from eviction, Your Majesty! Residents' plea to King as eco village he inspired is sold off

Published: 21:46, 27 May 2026 | Updated: 21:46, 27 May 2026 With its ‘chocolate box pretty’ houses, it was to be a showcase of eco-living, dreamed up by the then Prince of Wales. But now tenants living in the King’s dream village of Knockroon, Ayrshire, have been told their homes are being sold off and they have just weeks to leave. Havisham Properties has emailed renters at its properties at the estate and told them the company is to close and its entire portfolio on the state is to be sold. In the bombshell note, which was sent earlier this week, the tenants were told that they were to be served with the ‘statutory 12-week notice period to vacate the properties’. Residents have been left dismayed at the development, and some have even called on the King to intervene to help save the homes they love. Janice Fleming, 64, and her disabled husband Billy have rented their home for seven years and now face having to find a property suitable for someone living with disabilities. She said: ‘It’s upsetting, where are we going to find another suitable place?’ And Mr Flemming, 68, said of the King: ‘This was his baby, and he’s not taking responsibility for any of it.’ Village tenants Janice Fleming and her disabled husband Billy now face eviction Knockroon lies between the towns of Cumnock and Auchinleck in East Ayrshire Left sleepless after reading the email, which also told how tenants have the opportunity to buy, he said: ‘I’m so worried. It’s not great, I’m not a young man any more at 68 years old, what am I going to do?’ Knockroon was meant to be a 770-home development at the edge of former mining town Cumnock, and the sale of houses was meant to pay back loans used to buy the 2,000 acre Dumfries House estate. Envisaged as the Scots Poundbury, the now King wanted the new homes to be sustainable and built from stone using tradition arts and crafts. One of the properties features a stone marking the foundation of Knockroon, which was unveiled by the then Duke of Rothesay on May 21, 2011. But just a handful of the picturesque properties have ever been built. Eleven of those properties were purchased as buy-to-lets by the Havisham Group, which is owned by millionaire friend of King Charles, David Brownlaw, and which sent out the email notice on Tuesday. Renter Ashleigh McGoogan, 37, said: ‘It’s complete turmoil. It’s a beautiful area, it’s an exclusive area, you feel as if you are getting the best of the best, and you feel as if you’re settled here. ‘They have literally ripped everything from right under your feet. ‘The only other option is to potentially buy the properties, they are giving people that option, but you’re being forced into a mortgage you perhaps aren’t ready for. ‘I feel the King needs to know about this. Everybody here is devastated, they’re having to vacate their premises when they shouldn’t need to.’ In a bid to save her home she has phoned Buckingham Palace and now plans on writing to Charles by recorded delivery to protest at what is happening in the estate he founded. The mother, who moved in less than a year ago, said: ‘Being a renter, you don’t always get your stability, but I was expecting more than seven months in my house. ‘This was meant to be created to make affordable living and for houses - to give us just only 12 weeks' notice, nobody can just uproot their life in 12 weeks.’ The now King meets workers during a visit to Knockroon One mother, who did not want to be named, moved in at the start of the year and have just welcomed a baby into the world a matter of weeks ago. The 26-year-old said: ‘None of us are in a position to buy it ourselves, and the houses are going to be too much.’ The unexpected news was delivered by email to tenants by Adam Cashin-Murray, Havisham Group’s operations manager. Mr Cashin-Murray told them: ‘I am writing to share some important news. After careful consideration, Havisham Properties Limited has made the difficult decision to close, and as a result, our entire Knockroon portfolio will be sold. ‘Unfortunately, this means that we will need to serve all tenants with the statutory 12-week notice period to vacate the properties. ‘You will receive a letter by post in the coming days confirming the termination date of your tenancy in line with the required notice period under Scottish tenancy law.’ The devasting email, in which Mr Cashin-Murray accepted brought ‘upsetting’ news about the ‘very difficult decision’, added: ‘From the very beginning, our aim has been to provide homes where tenants are treated with care, respect, and support – going above and beyond whenever we could, particularly during difficult times. ‘I hope this approach is reflected in the relationships I’ve built with you and your families over the years and in the low tenant turnover we’ve enjoyed in the Knockroon community.’ And Mr Cashin-Murray later added: ‘If you or a family member may be interested in discussing the possibility of purchasing one of the properties in our Knockroon portfolio, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.’ The Havisham Group, Buckingham Palace and the King’s Foundation have been approached for comment. 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