Malcolm Allan Housebuilders had submitted a fresh application for 416 homes and a small office and retail development at Portstown.

While the developer already had permission to build the properties, it now plans to build all 48 affordable homes and flats on one site.

As a result of a reduction in demand for larger houses in the north east, the firm will also change the design of some of the homes to reduce the number of larger properties and feature more semi-detached housing, including bungalows.

Since the developer already had permission to build a similar development, and the decision was effectively determining a change of house type, the committee voted in favour of the proposals.

Councillors also backed plans by Barratt North Scotland to build 125 homes at the nearby Boynds Farm, Uryside.

The developer already had permission to build 104 homes but has decided to build some smaller units due to similar market concerns. Work on the project, which is expected to take more than 10 years to complete, began in 2014.

The scheme also includes a new £11 million primary school, Uryside Primary, which opened following the October break.