NHS Grampian lodged proposals with Aberdeen City Council late last year to create 110 homes on the former nurses’ accommodation complex at Foresterhill Court at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Drafted in conjunction with Grampian Housing Association and designed by Halliday Fraser Munro, the proposed key worker accommodation would not only be used for NHS staff but for emergency workers and teachers.

A report by Aberdeen City Council planning officers had recommended councillors to reject the development due to its impact on green space and the character of the area, with particular reference to the number of trees on the site.

However, councillors voted 15 to one to defer the application in order to see if issues with the application could be resolved and to carry out a site visit.

Craig Stirrat, director of business development at Grampian Housing Association, told Scottish Housing News: “We are pleased that Councillors have deferred the decision so that they can arrange a site visit. We look forward to welcoming them to the site in due course.”

If approved, the properties would initially be allocated to key workers for NHS Grampian and then be open to workers in Police Scotland, the city council or the Scottish Government.

Should any of the properties were vacant for a period of two weeks then the accommodation could be let at mid-market rent to non-key workers.

The flats were hoped to be completed by winter of 2017.