A major new housing development complete with a health facility will be built in the north-east if plans are approved.
Turriff-based Sandlaw Farming has submitted a pre-application notice to Aberdeenshire Council to build 700 homes at Braehead in Banchory.
The 10 year project would include the creation of 200 rented houses, 100 affordable homes and some small residential care apartments within the first phase of the development.
Land has also been set aside for a health facility which could replace Banchory’s current facility at Bellfield, near the town’s Station Road.
The doctors surgery has been in a temporary building for the last eight years.
Developer Colin Liddell said the development would boost the north-east economy.
He said: “Clearly there’s a huge demand for different types of housing.
“The Aberdeen market is so heated because of the general lack of homes to buy and rent and the local economy is losing out because people choose to live elsewhere as a result.
“We feel this is an important site that will fill a gap in Banchory.”
The new health centre would be allocated to an area of land close to the town centre.
The second phase of the development would include the creation of 100 houses available for rent and a further 300 which could be sold.
Developers will also look at redeveloping the B974 Banchory to Fettercairn road to increase safety.
Business units to attract potters and artists would also be created if the plans get the go ahead.
A public consultation illustrating the proposals will take place on August 22 and 23.
It comes after North Banchory Company lodged plans for the multimillion-pound housing development at Lochside of Leys.
A masterplan for 395 homes was lodged with Aberdeenshire Council, as well as an application for planning permission in principle for the first phase of the development.