The former Marchburn Infant School in Abeerdeen is being demolished to make way for new council homes.

The demolition of the old school site, which was built circa 1950 and officially opened in 1952, paves the way for the council to continue with phase two of its new-build housing programme.

The Marchburn site will be developed as a Homezone scheme, with a courtyard layout to encourage social interaction and create sheltered, useable, external spaces. The estimated cost of the development is £4.9million.

The concept of a Homezone is to change the way streets are used and to improve quality of life, by making them places for people, not just traffic, so that the needs of car drivers are secondary to the needs of users of the street.

A Homezone is essentially a combination of elements that work to limit the volume and/or speed of traffic whilst creating places for play, resting and gathering for residents.

In line with Aberdeen City Council's Local Plan, more than a third of the site will be retained as public amenity space which will enhance the surrounding areas.

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Thirty five units built on the site, which will have a mix of home types and sizes, including three bedroom family properties. Parking spaces will be provided within the Homezone.

The Marchburn properties will be environmentally sustainable, quality homes.

Housing and Environment Convener, Councillor Aileen Malone, said: "I am delighted that we have reached the stage where we are demolishing Marchburn School. Clearing the site will allow us to go forward with another top-quality council rented homes development.

"I'm sure that all those who are waiting for affordable rented homes will be as excited as I am at the prospect of the development of good new social housing. The Homezone concept will be a great boon to many families who are waiting for affordable rented housing in the city. It promises to provide the foundations for a really strong, safe community.

"Creating new affordable homes is a key policy of this administration and this is a major step forward to delivering on that promise and delivering for the people on our waiting lists."

Vice-convener Mark McDonald added: "The demolition of Marchburn School represents another important step towards the regeneration of Northfield.

"With one new 3Rs school delivered and another on the horizon and with the development of new housing at Byron Park and now at Marchburn, we will be delivering a better future for the area and its residents."

Phase one of the programme will see the creation of up to 85 new homes at Hayton Road in Tillydrone, Byron Park in Northfield and Rorie Hall in Cults. Phase two is the Marchburn development.

The Marchburn development marks the second phase of the council's new build programme to create new council homes across the city. It is being funded by the housing revenue account and £875,000 (£20,000 per unit) of Kick Start grant monies from the Scottish Government.

The new build programme is on target for an appointed contractor to start on site in December 2010.

(GK/BMcC)