The recommendations, which will be presented to the communities committee on Friday, 4 July, could see three facilities closed entirely, three partially shut down, and a further eight transitioned to a new “enhanced housing” model.

The council has cited low occupancy levels, rising maintenance costs, and challenging site conditions, such as steep slopes and proximity to busy roads, as the primary reasons for the proposed changes. Officials maintain that the current service model is unsustainable, The Press and Journal reports.

Under the new proposals, three sites have been recommended for outright closure:

• Burnside Court in Portsoy
• Malcolm Forbes Court in Rosehearty
• Renouard Court in St Fergus

A further three complexes are facing partial closure. At Albany Court in Fraserburgh, services would cease in the main block of 41 flats but continue for the three linked cottages. Similarly, at Cumrye in Cuminestown, the main block of 13 flats would see services end, while the four linked cottages would retain them.

Mearns Court in Laurencekirk would also see the discontinuation of sheltered housing services in its main block of 18 flats, with services continuing for the 24 linked cottages.

Eight other facilities are proposed to move to an “enhanced housing” model. This would allow existing tenants to continue receiving sheltered housing services, but the units would gradually be repurposed for more independent adults over 55. The sites recommended for this model are Airlie House in Kintore, Cantlay Court in Cruden Bay, Deveron Court in Turriff, Forbes Court in New Pitsligo, James Cullen Court in Huntly, Kinbroom House in Rothienorman, Nether Davah House in Inverurie, and Slater Court in Ellon.

Only three of the 17 sites under review are recommended to continue operating as sheltered housing without any significant changes: Doune Court in Strathdon, Gamrie Bay Court in Gardenstown, and Invercairn Court in Cairnbulg.