Earlier this week, Angus Council cleared the way for the demolition of the infirmary, bringing an end to hopes of the site being saved for community use.

The new draft design for the one-and-a-half acre site shows space for up to 44 new homes, and access taken from Infirmary Street to create a spine road running through three areas of residential development. The infirmary is not listed and lies outside Brechin’s conservation area.

Agents Graham and Sibbald said: “The proposal is to establish the principle of residential development on a brownfield site within the Brechin development boundary.”

In 2021, NHS Tayside rejected Brechin Healthcare Group’s community asset transfer (Cat) application for the site. The local campaigners wanted to use the old buildings to create a health hub for the town and surrounding area, The Courier reports.

An appeal against the Cat refusal was then rejected by Scottish ministers.

NHS Tayside submitted the demolition application last July. It recently submitted extra information to back the demolition proposal. NHS Tayside added that the adjacent Brechin Health Centre has room for thousands more patients so the infirmary site will not be needed for future health use.

Detailed housing plans would have to be the subject of a separate application. Planners have attached a condition that any development proposals must come forward within five years.

NHS Tayside is yet to say whether it will carry out the demolition or market the site with planning permission in principle attached.