CALA Homes (North), in conjunction with NHS Grampian, submitted plans to transform the currently disused surplus land at May Baird Avenue in November. The plans were refined on previous proposals for 36 apartments following feedback from the community and other consultees.

Planners have now recommended members of Aberdeen City Council’s planning committee show a “willingness to approve” the revised plans when they met next week.

The four-and-a-half-storey building would include eight affordable properties, to meet council requirements, as well as car parking and associated works.

The leafy location is protected by tree preservation orders but the construction would result in 12 being felled.

Planners claim the loss of sycamores and hollies facing the axe could be mitigated by replacement planting – and highlight that larger beech and oak trees, providing screening along Cornhill Road, would remain.

The developers would need to contribute more than £35,000 to boost local services including primary schools and health facilities.

In making her recommendations to councillors, planning officer Lucy Greene, wrote: “The proposal would result in the retention of a significant proportion of the green space, along with the mature trees and those along the site boundary.”