A former north-east care home which has lain empty for more than a decade could be transformed into houses.
Fotheringham Property Developments are behind the proposals to turn Edenholme Villa, on Stonehaven’s Arduthie Road, into 15 “executive” homes for people aged 55 and above.
The C-listed building was built at the turn of the 20th century and was used as a care home until the early 2000s, when the facility relocated. It has lain empty ever since.
And now a planning application has been lodged with Aberdeenshire Council to turn the villa’s main building into five flats and create a further 10 terraced houses on the grounds of the site.
The developers have warned, if approval for the proposal is not granted, the building may “remain vacant and fall into disrepair”.
Last night, director of Fotheringham Property Developments, Michael Fotheringham, said: “We did have planning permission for a B&B there but we decided that there is a huge demand for people downsizing, particularly over-55s. It is a good location in Stonehaven.
“The designs are sympathetic to the building and retain a lot of the original features. There will be modern units out the back.
“I think there is a demand in Stonehaven for what we are trying to achieve. There has been initial interest and inquiries.
“I think it is a great, kind of lost building really, that has needed some attention to it. I think neighbours will be delighted something is going to happen to the site as well.”
A design statement from agents for Fotheringham, John D Crawford Ltd Architects, said: “This design creates a unique and distinctive residential development which meets the demands set out by Aberdeenshire Council.
“Edenholme is a dominant feature in the Arduthie Road streetscape and is a good example of turn of the century suburban villas.
“The proposal maximises the potential of an otherwise vacant site surrounded by a substantial empty stone villa within the heart of Stonehaven, which will remain vacant and fall into disrepair unless planning permission is granted for a viable and deliverable development.
“The proposals provides for high quality executive residential dwellings, designed so they complement the existing residential properties around the site and is focused at delivering the housing for the over-55s market.
“The upgrading of the listed building Edenholme will secure its future in Arduthie Road whilst improving its energy efficiency and over all status in the streetscape.”
