A north-east council is set to sacrifice a depot in the region’s biggest town to build 30 affordable homes.
Aberdeenshire is facing a housing crisis with around 8,000 people on the waiting list for council properties.
So the authority has now tabled plans to replace a disused depot in Peterhead with 30 affordable homes in an effort to ease the burden on the housing service.
The scheme – which includes 20 semi-detached homes and 10 one-bedroom flats – will be put to members of the Buchan area committee when they meet in the town on Tuesday.
In a report to members, council infrastructure chief Stephen Archer stated: “Full planning permission is sought for the erection of 30 houses and associated infrastructure on land off Dales View Drive, part of which was last used as a council depot.”
As part of the scheme – which neighbours Dales Park Primary School – the former building would be demolished.
The infrastructure director added: “The proposed layout, siting and design is considered acceptable, and complies with the general principles of the masterplan.
“The proposed development would not have an adverse impact on the amenity of the existing neighbouring houses by way of loss of privacy or light.”
Mr Archer has recommended councillors back the scheme with a number of conditions, including that parking is provided on the site before development of the properties is completed.
Aberdeenshire Council’s planning department received one letter of objection to the scheme. And solicitors representing local resident Bruce Buchan explained his rationale.
They said: “Our client’s principal grounds of objection are the location of the waste bins which appear to be as far as possible away from the new housing, but right outside the entrance to our client’s property and against the wall to a school.”
Mr Buchan has called on the council to revise the scheme.
The plans for the Dales Park housing scheme will be presented to councillors on Tuesday morning for a final decision.