Bucksburn Care Home had to find emergency places for almost 20 residents when it shut down months after serious failings were uncovered by inspectors.

While lying empty, the building has fallen victim to vandalism.

However, a pair of landowners have now submitted plans to the council to transform the site into 27 new homes.

Planning documents lodged with Aberdeen City Council describe it as “disused, vacant and partly derelict”.

In addition to creating a complex of six flats, their blueprint shows plans for 21 bungalows to be built on open ground nearby.

The bungalows would be a mix of two and three bedrooms, and the flats would be affordable, the Press and Journal reports.

Acting on the landowners’ behalf, Gilbert Architects said: “The nursing home has been vacant for a number of years after it became unviable to run due to its age and design in respect of evolving regulatory requirements.

“The remainder of the site existed as open space surrounding the home and was underused when the home was occupied, and totally unused since it closed.”

“This site can form a small pocket community that is sustainable in isolation, but can be fully integrated.”

The application also highlights “necessary” plans to tear down “some” trees for the development. However, it added that the loss of the trees would be offset by “generous planting elsewhere in the scheme”.

The architects added that the complex would be a “well-mannered neighbour” to adjacent Newhills Parish Church.