Planned for the south-west of the Foresterhill Health Campus, the new facility would replace the outdated mortuaries at Queen Street police station and at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, which predate the Second World War.

The proposals have been drawn up by the local authority, the University of Aberdeen and landowner NHS Grampian and would provide mortuary services for the north-east and Northern Isles.

Around three trees, scattered across the proposed site, would be felled to make way for the new build, which will also include a bereavement garden.

A statement submitted alongside the planning application reads: “The background to the development proposals is rooted in a need to address longstanding issues with existing mortuary facilities serving the north-east and Northern Isles at both ARI and Queen Street.

“In terms of the physical condition of both facilities, their compliance with statutory standards, space utilisation and functional suitability they are in a poor, non-compliant condition and do not meet current expectations of a modern mortuary service.

“The services located in this new integrated mortuary will not only ensure clinical accreditation through compliance with all technical and clinical standards but also deliver an innovative design that will meet expectations of the bereaved, provide dignity for the deceased, support growth in the scope and nature of locally delivered forensic and educational activity, and improve resilience through additional capacity to support civil contingencies.

“A key aim of the project is to further improve dignity for the deceased and provide an enhanced environment for the bereaved and staff.”

The “state of the art” purpose-built replacement would be used as an integrated multi-purpose mortuary, serving use for NHS Grampian, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Moray Council, Orkney and Shetland Island Councils, Aberdeen University, the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service and Police Scotland.