The brief envisaged a high-quality housing development incorporating a new residential street and a small park on a site bounded by St Salvador’s Church to the north, Carnegie Street to the west, North Wellington Street to the east and Alexander Street to the south.

As the Category A-listed St Salvador’s is regarded as an important landmark, it was held that any new development must take account of its setting.

The brief indicates that the site should be developed into distinct components, including a curved terrace framing the foreground of the church and a simple terrace of townhouses creating a new western edge of North Wellington Street.

Creation of a “pocket park” between the development site and Carnegie Street is seen as essential to provide the foreground to St Salvador’s and a new vista from Alexander Street.

It would also provide a landscape link between Alexander Street and the Hilltown Park, as well as a buffer between the housing site and industrial premises on Carnegie Street.

The brief envisages no more than 40 houses on the site.

Planning and transportation director Mike Galloway said that of 56 written responses to the brief, there was only one letter of objection on behalf of two residents.

The Scottish Episcopal Church said it was impressed with the brief and felt the area would be greatly enhanced by a residential development.

But opposition to the brief came from residents at of 34 and 40 North George Street, who feared an influx of 30 to 40 families would be devastating in that noise levels would rise and there would be anti-social behaviour.

They said the area was an unsafe environment for families due to the industrial traffic.

Mr Galloway said the issues raised were of a nature which meant they could be considered only at the detailed planning stage.