St Machar Properties, formerly Redco Milne, submitted proposals to redevelop the former Tesco site at Caroline Street to Moray councillors in 2020, but they were rejected last August.

However, a Scottish Government reporter visited the site in January and recommended that planning permission be granted.

Moray Council last week formally backed the plans to build 29 houses and 19 flats on the site, The Northern Scot reports.

Cllr Marc Macrae, one of the four councillors who backed the original application, said: “I was pleased to be advised that the Scottish Government reporter had allowed the appeal for this housing development on Caroline Street.

“As I said to committee back in 2021, the proposal was for the redevelopment of a derelict site for affordable housing.

“I hope that the developer can now move forward with making good use of this derelict site and providing much-needed accommodation.

“Seeing people given the chance to move onto the housing ladder can only be a good thing.”