Elsick Development Company has also signed up three house builders for the first phase of the Chapelton of Elsick project.

The initial 225 homes will be built by ZeroC Holdings in partnership with Hope Homes, AJC Homes and A&J Stephen.

Project management and construction consultancy Turner and Townsend is managing the tender process for roads, drainage, services and landscaping.

Norrie Kitson, associate director at Turner and Townsend, said; “This is a seldom-seen opportunity to be involved in developing a new type of community.

“We have invited a range of local and national companies to compete and hope to find a partner we can work with for the duration of this exciting project.

“We hope to announce the successful firm in early August ready to start work on site in autumn.”

House builders will start on site in the spring of next year.

This announcement follows a recent decision by Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee to grant approval for an outline application for 4,045 homes and a detailed application for the first 802 homes.

The Elsick Development Company wants to transform the 2,000 acre near Newtonhill ten miles south of Aberdeen.

The land is owned by the Duke of Fife and the project is being managed by his son David Southesk.

Lord Southesk, director of EDC, said: “Today’s announcement is another major milestone for us and takes us another step closer to getting construction under way.”