The four-storey block, a project for Hillcrest Housing Association, will be erected at 60-62 High Street, adjacent to the Webster Theatre. Angus planning review committee members voted three to two in favour of the development, overturning a previous refusal by council officials.

Initial plans for the site, submitted by George Martin Builders in late 2023, proposed twenty flats. This was later revised to the current scheme of eight two-bedroom and seven one-bedroom flats.

The original application was rejected under delegated powers due to concerns that future residents would be disturbed by noise from the neighbouring theatre. However, an independent noise assessment presented during the appeal process indicated that this would not be an issue. A site visit by the Development Management Review Committee (DMRC) also proved influential in swaying opinion.

DMRC convener, councillor Bill Duff, who championed the project, highlighted the critical lack of affordable homes: “There is a dire shortage of affordable housing in Scotland, Angus and probably Arbroath.”