Aberdeen City Council’s finance and resources committee agreed a petition should be lodged with the Courts to grant permission to dispose of the Wallace Tower – also known as Benholm’s Lodge - and associated Common Good land within Seaton Park.

The council has to apply to the Courts for permission as it is Common Good property.

If the requested authority is granted by the Court, the asset transfer request to Tillydrone Community Development Trust (TCDT) will proceed at a cost of £1. The Trust plans to build an extension to the original building and restore it, utilising the property for the good of the local communities, visitors to Seaton Park, and for tourists and locals with a community café, community hall, and office space.

Committee convener Councillor Alexander McLellan said: “It is great that we are one step closer to Tillydrone Community Development Trust taking over Wallace Tower.

“The Trust has fantastic plans for using this historic building in a very positive way for the local community and we look forward to tackling the next stage.”

The report to the committee said TCDT has secured funding of £253,974 which should be committed for spending before the end of the financial year which allows the group to get a significant amount of the required works completed to get the Wallace Tower back into use.