The new owners of the former Brechin City property on the corner of Commerce Street are hoping to convert the building into a series of one to three-bedroom flats split over three floors.

But council planners are unconvinced, and in a report to go before Angus councillors on Tuesday, they are asking the local authority to veto the proposals for a number of reasons.

Chief among their concerns are fears that the external changes to the building will damage the character of the site and nearby streets and that the nine units are too densely packed a development for a building of that size.

"The scale, massing and positioning of the proposed dormer windows dominates the existing building (and] jars with the composition of the building," said Eric Lowson, the director of infrastructure services.

"As a result the proposal adversely affects the character of the existing building and streetscene.

"The removal of the existing stone chimneys located at the wallhead on the south elevation is considered unacceptable. This removes a dominant architectural feature... and will adversely affect the character of the streetscene," he added.

Mr Lowson also feels the nine units would be an "overdevelopment" and is worried that the project would set "an undesirable precedent" if voted through.

These latest plans are a slight change from those originally submitted in October of last year.

At the time the developer had hoped to construct 10 flats within the existing building - containing one single-bedroom and nine two-bedroom flats.

However, following consultation with the planning authority, these plans were changed to the current nine-flat proposal.

Externally the developer is also hoping to erect two stairways to the rear of the property to provide access to the various floors, and also remove two chimney stacks to provide dormer windows to the third floor properties.

But despite the revised application, the planning officers remain unconvinced ahead of Tuesday's vote.