Aberdeen City Council has been urged to scrap plans to demolish an historic school building.
More than 500 objections have been lodged against proposals to construct 56 flats on the site of Victoria Road Primary in the city’s Torry area.
Developers Barratt Homes are currently seeking permission from the local authority to pull down the 19th-century granite structure and build a mix of flats and three bedroom houses at the location.
But the scheme has been the catalyst for an outcry in the community, and a campaign was launched to voice opposition to the scheme.
Now, planning officials have recommended that the authority’s planning, development and management committee vote to refuse the proposals at a meeting next Thursday.
Their report argues that the development would have a negative impact on the amenity of nearby properties, and would not do enough to protect Aberdeen’s historic granite heritage.
It is not the first time the developers have applied to build on the site.
Barratt Homes originally launched a proposal to convert the Torry site into 56 housing units in 2014, but was met with 266 letters of objection.
That initiative was later abandoned after planners at Aberdeen City Council recommended refusal.
The school was first built in 1878, and remained open until 2008.
It has since lain empty, but members of the Torry Heritage Group have campaigned to retain the building for the benefit of the community.
David Fryer, one of the members of the group, said: “We’re very pleased to see the planners have listened to the arguments the community council and many other individuals have put forward.
“It is a very important part of the granite history and heritage of Torry, and is one of the last civic granite buildings in the area.
“We evidenced our arguments, and gave examples of where the granite heritage has been preserved such as Marischal College, Mile End School and other fine buildings across the city that have been kept and have new uses.
“This will give many a restoration of faith that the planners actually listen to the community.
“These buildings are still structurally sound, and new uses can and should be brought to them, and there are many suggestions people have brought forward, not least of which is that it could and should be a school.”
