The Edwardian-school will be retained and transformed into four homes as part of the project, while other buildings on the seven-acre site will be demolished, The Courier has reported.

Two years ago, Persimmon was told to go back to the drawing board after it put forward plans to clear the site and create 102 homes.

The latest bid was opposed by the town’s civic trust who said the proposal was “significantly greater” than the council’s adopted development plan which had earmarked the site for just 70 houses.

The group also complained that the density of housing was “inappropriately high for the area”.

However, the plan was welcomed by members of Perth and Kinross Council’s development management committee.

Convener Tom Gray said: “Personally, I was very annoyed that the first plan was rejected two years ago.

“This will bring new housing to where it needs to be, right in the centre of Kinross. I am all for this proposal.”

Independent Kinross-shire councillor David Cuthbert tabled a motion to defer making a decision until a detailed parking survey could be carried out. His motion was defeated in a 10-2 vote.

Ian McGoldrick, a director at Persimmon Homes, said the housing plan was first mooted after the council had unsuccessfully tried to market the site to a supermarket chain in 2009.

“I think by reducing the number of houses involved, it shows that we are prepared to listen to the public and the planning officers,” he said. “We have also moved homes away from the boundary and created more space for car parking.”

He added: “In our opinion, this would be very positive for the area. It will breathe new life into a redundant brownfield site which would otherwise become an increasing target for vandals.”

Mr McGoldrick also claimed that the development would pump around £642,000 into the local economy each year.