The former Sunnyside Royal Hospital site in Hillside was acquired by Montrose-based Pert Bruce Construction Ltd and Edinburgh based FM Group from NHS Tayside in a seven figure deal in August.

The mixed-use development, called Sunnyside Park, will comprise housing, retail, commercial and social housing including affordable, retirement and assisted-living housing in a mixture of apartments and family homes.

Sunnyside Estate Ltd, the joint venture company responsible for the transformation, has lodged its planning-in-principle application for a mixed use development on the 64-acre site.

The development plan indicates the release of around 265 houses, with 140 in the first phase period to 2021, with the remainder to follow within five years.

The Principle Class B and C heritage buildings will be preserved and sensitively incorporated into the overall development.

David Stewart, director of Sunnyside Estate, said: “Our vision is for a distinctive development which enhances and benefits the local area, sustaining and creating local jobs, has been foremost in our thinking for Sunnyside.

“We have been working closely with the local community and Angus Council to propose a masterplan design that is a benefit for the area, to maintain the history and heritage of the former hospital, and the natural environment along with consideration to both existing and new communities.

“Sunnyside Park represents an idyllic setting, history and a uniqueness seldom found in other sites and we are very excited about its potential.

“We are passionate about building quality developments that preserve our country’s heritage, employing the best of modern day construction techniques, and to deliver projects and communities of which we can be proud.

“Our plans generated considerable excitement locally and, following a constructive public consultation, we are now lodging our planning application outlining our vision for Sunnyside.”