The Association, which purchased the Ballater site with the desire to rejuvenate the C-listed Old School, will build 12 new homes on the land. A new house will also be constructed in the school yard, alongside 11 newly built flats.

Previous plans for 26 homes were turned down by the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) planning committee last May amid concerns over the proposed access and the density of properties on the site.

This decision was successfully appealed by the Association, which then reduced the number of planned homes by two in a new application.

The design team led by Ian Rodger Architects also addressed the site’s access concerns.

Planning officer Katherine Donnachie outlined her reasons for recommending the application for approval.

She said: “This site is particularly well located in terms of access to the facilities and amenities of Ballater, and the proposal is an excellent use of a redundant site.

“To have a listed building of architectural and historical importance brought back into productive use is also extremely positive.”

Deeside councillor Geva Blackett said: “Ballater needs this low-cost housing and Grampian Housing have gone out of their way to work with the community to find a solution in terms of access to the site.”