A housing firm has vowed to fight a decision to refuse planning permission to demolish an office block in a Moray town to make way for flats.
Osprey Housing is considering knocking down its Lossiemouth base to move staff there to a new site.
Yesterday the organisation explained the proposals remained “tentative” but stressed they were “very disappointed” at the decision.
Plans had been submitted to Moray Council to build up to 15 two-bedroom flats in a three-storey building on Clifton Road, near the River Lossie.
However, Moray Council planners have rejected the proposals due to concerns it would clash with traditional buildings in the area.
Glenn Adcook, chief executive of Osprey Housing, said: “We’ll be appealing because we want to have the opportunity to develop the site – we feel it was an appropriate proposal and we’re very disappointed.
“At the moment it’s still tentative while we are thinking about the future of the site.
“We are looking at maximising the office space we have across different locations. There are other options on the table too but we want the opportunity to consider this one as well.”
Planners behind the project cited the need for affordable housing in Lossiemouth – three flats in the proposed complex are classed as “affordable”.
There are currently more than 3,000 on the council’s waiting list for homes across the region.
Heldon and Laich councillor James Allan agrees houses are needed in the area but stressed proposals need to be appropriate for the locations.
He said: “I went round to speak to neighbours about it and they thought the flats would have been a big monstrosity. It would have made the neighbouring homes dark.
“These would have been out of character with the area. We need houses but it needs to be the right kind.”
Moray Council planners concluded that the flats would dominate the beachfront area of the town.
A report states: “While the development would be at the rear of the listed buildings, the three-storey element would appear dominant and overbearing in relation to them and would detract from their status.
“This would undermine the setting of the listed buildings to an unacceptable degree.”
