Plans to convert a former Deeside school into flats have been called in by the Cairngorms National Park.
Grampian Housing Association is applying to convert the former Ballater School site on Abergeldie Road into 27 rented homes.
The proposals went out for public consultation last month and an exhibition was held in the Victoria and Albert Halls last week.
While ordinarily Aberdeenshire Council would decide on planning matters, the national park has decided to step in as the application is deemed to be of major significance.
The national park is unable to comment before any decision has been made but principal architect Ian Rodger, of Ian Rodger Architects, said the move was not unexpected.
He said: “For the past few months we have been working with Aberdeenshire Council and national park planners to iron out any wrinkles.
“Work has already been done and they (the national park) have been extremely helpful in flagging up any issues they could foresee with this development, allowing us to make provisions.
“Generally speaking I think there is support for affordable housing in the village.”
The building, which is categorised as at risk, would be fully refurbished for residential use with new dwellings also built on the site.
Craig Stirrat, director of business development at the housing association, said: “We believe our proposals will bring back into productive use a vacant community asset to help address the high demand for affordable housing in Ballater and will give local people the opportunity to access high quality homes.”
The school closed in the 1980s, and was then used as an environmental education centre until 2000.
There have been a number of attempts to bring it back into use over the years.
Previously residents and businesses were hopeful they could secure a community asset transfer to breathe new life into the building.
If approved by the national park, the work would be carried out by Robertson Group with developers hopeful tenants would be able to move in by the end of next year.
