Chamberlain Bell Developments Ltd has applied to create 49 homes on the 2.2 hectare site of Little Cairnie Hospital in Arbroath, which closed in 2015.

Under the plans, the site’s remaining administration block would be made into four homes with 45 new homes created as well as new access roads and drainage infrastructure.

Hillcrest Housing Association will take over 12 of the units as social housing.

A deal to purchase the site from NHS Tayside is yet to be concluded but it is not contingent on planning permission being granted.

A design and access statement by Fouin & Bell Architects on behalf of the applicant says: “Houses of two, three and four bedrooms will be offered within a site that is set within a secure brick and stone wall boundary and surrounded by a belt of existing mature trees.

“A strong desire to preserve the existing character of the site as much as possible was established at the outset with the aim of retaining the trees, existing boundary brick and stone walls, hedgerows, roads and gate features with minimal alterations.”