A hotel which ceased trading in a north-east town could be resurrected into a plush five-star retreat.
But plans have been delayed to redevelop the Udny Arms Hotel in Newburgh while councillors await further information on how the neighbours will be affected by the new-build proposed for the site.
If approved, the hotel would be reopened to include 12 en-suite rooms with a manager’s flat and the current annexe would be demolished to make way for five terraced townhouses.
It is the overshadowing of the townhouses that has raised concerns, despite planning officers reporting there will not be any “significant” shadows cast from the three-storey buildings.
Eight objections were made against the plans, and one neighbour, Ian Adams, spoke at the Formartine Area Committee to voice his concerns about the shadows that would be cast by the townhouses.
He said: “I think when it comes to autumn and winter, any light we do get will disappear. My option would be to move the line of the houses forward to be in line with those in Errol Place.”
Newly-appointed chair of the committee, Councillor Isobel Davidson agreed that more detail was needed on the overshadowing and agreed to defer the decision until the next full area meeting on August 22.
The hotel was formerly owned and operated by Oxford Hotels and Inns, which shut the premises in 2013 for significant renovation work due to extensive flooding throughout the hotel.
The bar and restaurant reopened in December 2013 and the hotel in February 2014, but the function suite has remained closed.
The premises, including the bar and restaurant, was then put up for sale in September 2014, before being sold to ECS Investments Ltd in March last year.
A statement from the owner, ECS Investments, added: “The proposals would reduce the scale of the hotel and refurbish the original buildings, in order to provide a five-star boutique hotel.
“The scale of the hotel is to be reduced by removing the function suite, the recent extensions and the disconnection from the annexe to the north (semi-detached Victorian houses).
“The remaining original coach-house buildings would then be renovated and refurbished to provide the five-star boutique hotel accommodation, which is felt to be more viable in the current market.”
The firm added the development would greatly improve Newburgh and attract