New Aberdeen stadium complex clears council planning hurdle

Aberdeen Football Club’s plans to build a new £50 million stadium and training complex at Kingsford have been overwhelmingly approved by Aberdeen City Council.The club intends to replace their current home of Pittodrie with a 20,000-seater stadium and training complex on the other side of the city at Westhill.Councillors yesterday debated a motion supporting the recommendation of planners to approve the project and an amendment from Councillor Marie Boulton, who wanted the application to be rejected.The local authority backed the plans by 32 votes to nine.Originally unveiled back in May 2016, the Kingsford stadium plan has divided opinion in Aberdeen, with slightly over half of residents in favour of the relocation.Aberdeen FC said the new facilities are vital to its future and has claimed the stadium and training ground would create more than 400 jobs and bring millions of pounds into the local economy.Objections have been raised on grounds including potential traffic issues and loss of green belt land.The planning application was due to go before councillors for determination last October but was put on hold by the club to allow further discussions with the planning service.The plan still has to be approved by the Scottish Government and a series of planning conditions have to be met.Planning officials had recommended that the proposals were approved provided there are no live concerts, no sporting fixtures before 7pm on a weekday and the training facilities are only open between 9am and 9pm.Other conditions specified by the officers include a ban on hot food being sold within 150 metres of the ground, the training pitches close to the houses not being used beyond the “early evening” and the expansion of the footpath leading to the Prime Four Business Park.Senior planner Gavin Evans told councillors that Aberdeenshire Council, which had earlier objected to the plans, could effectively still stop the application, over the issue of controlled parking zones.The plan’s opponents No Kingsford Stadium plan to pursue a judicial review of the council’s decision. Should the plans go ahead the new stadium could be completed in time for the start of the 2020/21 season.