Aberdeen's Wallace Tower is to be removed from the market for a year as a community group aims to attract grant funding.

The Tillydrone Community Development Trust wants to find a community use for the historic building but needs to grant funding to secure its plans.

The B-listed building has been empty for a number of years due to its deteriorating condition, a lack of sufficient repair funds and a lack of tenants.

Sub-committee members voted in favour of negotiating lease terms with the Trust, but only if it secures funding to implement its proposals for the building in the next 12 months. It also noted their disappointment that the Tillydrone Community Development Trust's £300,000 bid to the Scottish Government's Regeneration Investment Team had failed.

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In addition, they voted in favour of recommending that the Council's Finance and Policy Convener write to the Scottish Parliament's Local Government and Regeneration Convener about the proposed project.

Sub-committee convener Yvonne Allan said: "The Tillydrone Community Development Trust is made up of a very dedicated group of people who have worked extremely hard to secure the future of the Wallace Tower with a view to using it as a community facility and driving the regeneration of their area.

"It's very disappointing that their bid to the Scottish Government's Regeneration Investment Team was not successful. Their proposal has real merit and I wish them success in securing funding to take this valuable project forward."

If the Trust is unsuccessful with the grant funding, the building will be placed back on the market.

(JP/CD)