The church hopes to knock down Northfield Parish Church to make space for 16 flats while plans have also been submitted to demolish Summerhill Parish Church and build 14 homes.

The move follows the amalgamation of the Northfield, Mastrick and Summerhill congregations at the start of last year. The new Aberdeen North Parish Church now meets at Mastrick, leaving the other two buildings empty.

The Northfield and Summerhill churches combined could become 30 homes. The Church of Scotland has been in talks with the council about the changes since January.

New proposals have now been submitted by Reverend Ian Murray, the building officer for the Presbytery of the North East and Northern Isles.

On his behalf, consultants Aurora say the Northfield proposal will create “much-needed affordable housing”.

Demolishing the Byron Crescent church and manse buildings could make space for a “high-quality development” of 16 homes, each with a private garden, The Press and Journal reports. 

The Northfield complex would comprise of eight one-bedroom flats at ground level, with eight three-bedroom units above.

Aurora has revealed this takes into account the “specific housing need” there, with elderly people potentially making use of the one-bedroom options. Summerhill Parish would be flattened to make way for a mix of 14 new homes. These would each come with a private garden, while also enjoying communal “amenity space”.

However, there is no mention of these being affordable units or the Church of Scotland acting as a social landlord.