The local authority has unveiled a £1.5 million proposal to build 11 new homes on the plot, which has remained empty since the annexe on Gordon Terrace was demolished in 2017. The main Ellon Academy building had already been razed the previous year, following the school’s relocation to a modern £36m campus at Cromleybank.

Since then, part of the former school grounds has been redeveloped into Formartine House—a new two-storey facility housing a library, family resource centre, and council offices, which opened earlier this year.

Now, attention has turned to the remaining vacant land, with plans aiming to reintegrate it into the community while addressing the growing demand for affordable housing in the area.

According to planning documents, the proposed development would include a mix of houses and flats. A three-storey apartment block would feature six flats, three one-bedroom and three two-bedroom units, located at the corner of Bridge Street and Gordon Terrace.

On the adjacent plot, the council proposes building four three-bedroom homes and one four-bedroom home, all designed with families in mind.

Each property would come with a designated parking space equipped with an electric vehicle charging point, supporting the council’s commitment to sustainability.

If approved, the development would bring new life to a site that has stood idle for nearly a decade while contributing to the region’s stock of much-needed affordable homes.