The force had lodged plans to build nine two-bedroom flats within a three-storey block inside land by the station on Blackhall Road.

The proposals form part of Police Scotland’s larger programme to dispose of land across Scotland.

Dundee-based agents Graham+Sibbald put in a request to Aberdeenshire Council last December to get feedback on the potential development of the area.

The council were presented with two options of a nine-flat residential scheme or a commercial drive-through. Again, in February this year, two options were presented to the council, which opted for the residential scheme.

The site does include a variety of aged trees, 61 of which would have had to be removed to make way for the development.

However, a refusal notice issued by planners stated: “The applicant has not satisfactorily demonstrated a public, economic or social benefit that outweighs the loss of the area designated as ancient woodland and has not demonstrated that there is no reasonable alternative site for the development.”

It also noted: “The indicative siting of the proposed flatted development and associated works are unacceptable and the Planning Service has no confidence based on the information available that the site can accommodate this level of development resulting in concerns with the potential visual impact of the building and impact on the character of the area.”