A former care home has gone back on the market just two months after planning permission was granted to convert it into flats.
The Rose Innes care home in Aberchirder was closed down in 2006 after it failed to meet Care Commission standards.
It has lain empty since then and was put up for sale two years ago.
Proposals to convert the property into a housing scheme were abandoned when it proved controversial with local councillors and residents four years before it went on the market.
But permission was finally awarded to a Banff architecture firm in March to begin converting the facility into 12 flats.
However, those plans now appear to be on hold with Shepherd Chartered Surveyors last night announcing that the care home was again back on the market.
Branding it a “residential development opportunity”, the firm is asking for offers over £350,000 for the site.
A spokesman for the surveyors said: “The former care home was built originally as a local cottage hospital before being converted into a residential home in the 1960s.
“Extensions have been added over the years and the home previously provided accommodation for 24 residents with ancillary lounge areas and kitchen facilities.”
James Morrison, the firm’s commercial associate, added that the pre-existing planning permission for the flats – and the materials required to make the transformation happen – could form part of the sale.
This could convert the home into five one-bedroom, three two-bedroom and four three-bedroom apartments.
He said: “Works have already commenced on the property with the subdivision of the units.
“Our client has advised us they have purchased the kitchens, bathrooms, boilers and various other materials and a full list of the inventory can be provided to seriously interested parties upon request.”
Concerns had initially been raised about the current state of the building, before planning permission was approved.
There was fears that bats had moved into the property to nest following its closure.
Local councillor Isobel Davidson, a licensed roost visitor, carried out a survey on behalf of planning consultants and found five animals inside the building.
“A licence to disturb or destroy a bat roost and mitigation is unlikely to be required as the proposed work is unlikely to have any effect on roosting bats,” she said.
