Residents in a north-east town have raised concerns about a proposed £7million care “village”.

Aberdeenshire Council’s housing and social work service lodged plans with the authority’s planning department for the care complex in School Road, Stonehaven, last month.

The application has attracted 23 letters of representation with one complainer branding the design of the facility “like a prison”.

The majority of objectors raised concerns about the proposed access road and the loss of green space.

There were also concerns about access and the increase of traffic on it.

One respondent says both the fire service and ambulance service may need to go to the site and could be delayed by the proposed access.

Residents say the proposed site is used by children and dog walkers and is home to wildlife.

There are concerns the site will be “overdeveloped”, with one complainer asking: “Why does every inch of the field need to be built on?”

Other residents have said the development would invade the privacy of homeowners, block out light from houses and pose a flood risk.

The council plans to build a care home for up to 60 people on the site.

The development would also include eight cottages and a car park with space for 46 cars and 10 bicycles.

The site, which is owned by the council, had been earmarked originally for a primary school but councillors gave permission for the ground to be used by the housing department.

The plans say the home would be separated into five 12-person “households”.

Each household would have a sitting room, dining room, quiet room and assisted bathroom. In addition, each resident would have a bedroom with en suite facilities.

The home would will also have a garden, a sun room and a guest suite.

The proposed semi-detached cottages would form a “care village”, with each having its own private back garden.

They will be council houses and occupants will be able to use the care home if required.

The application will be discussed by the Kincardine and Mearns area committee in due course.