Places for People Scotland has submitted proposals to Aberdeenshire Council to redevelop the vacant Blythewood House site on School Road, Port Elphinstone, with a mix of social rent and mid‑market rent properties.

The application outlines 23 houses, 24 flats and two self‑contained cottage flats. Three‑ and four‑storey blocks containing one‑ and two‑bedroom apartments would be positioned at the entrance to the site, while two‑, three‑ and four‑bedroom homes, including wheelchair‑accessible options, would be built to the rear.

Designed by MGA Architecture, houses would benefit from private rear gardens, while flat residents would have access to outdoor drying greens, bike stores and individual planters to grow their own produce. A new walled garden is also proposed as part of the landscaping.

Each property would have an allocated parking space equipped with an EV charger. The homes are designed to reduce energy use through air‑source heat pumps, wastewater heat recovery systems and solar panels.