Aberdeen council backs plan for £50m stadium

The club plans to build a 20,000-seater stadium and training facilities six miles to the west of the city centre if they get the go-ahead from ministers.

The discussion among councillors centred on the public perception of rejecting such a proposal. Councillor John Cooke said if the council were to block the plans the city would be viewed as a “hick town” such as those “north of the wall” in the Sky Atlantic television show Game of Thrones.

Though supporters are split on moving from their spiritual home after 114 years, Mr Milne insisted that the long-term benefits of emigrating to the west of the city would have an impact not only on the club but the region. The city is recovering from the worst oil downturn in three decades.

“After 17 years, we are one step closer to a new home that will allow us to meet our vision and ambition for Aberdeen Football Club, our city and our region,” Mr Milne said. “Together, we can deliver a first-class facility that will make us all proud, unlocking the potential of the club, the [Community] Trust and the next generation of football stars and making a positive contribution to the local economy.

“The next steps are to await final approval from the Scottish government, agree the section 75 [planning obligation], work through the conditions with the council and secure the necessary road and building warrant consents.”

The plans could be delayed by a legal challenge and the intervention of Aberdeenshire council as the site lies on the border of the city and shire councils.

Certain aspects, such as a controlled parking zone and a footbridge for supporters to walk over the nearby A944, come under the jurisdiction of the Aberdeenshire governing body and they have yet to be approved. The No Kingsford Stadium campaign group believes it can legally challenge the decision. The concerns of nine councillors who voted against the plans were focused on travel arrangements for the stadium for fans on match days and the green belt location. “No Kingsford Stadium has worked tirelessly to prevent the approval of this application,” Diane Reid, a director of the group, said. “We have shown that the application is contrary to the [city] development plan and our position is supported by the strategic planning authority, Aberdeenshire council and the local community councils.

“We commissioned an independent review of the economic case which found that AFC had grossly overestimated the impact. It is our view that the council officers and councillors have failed in their duty to apply the law in this case and we will now progress our petition for judicial review.”

Behind the story
Some say that Aberdeen FC’s quest for a new stadium is older than the city itself. For nearly 20 years the club earmarked several sites in and around the city for a new ground, all of which failed to materialise, Ben Palmer writes.

The Kings Links, Bridge of Don and Loirston Loch were all suggested as a potential new home, but it now looks as though the club will be leaving Pittodrie, its dilapidated abode, for Kingsford.

In May 2016, the Dons revealed their intention to build training facilities and a 20,000-seater stadium at Kingsford. Yesterday councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of the plans.

Aberdeen’s desperation for the plans to be approved led to the “Aurora” campaign. By using social media, they demonstrated support among fans for the development. Derek McInnes, the manager, expressed his desire for training facilities at two pre-determination hearings, saying that the club was one of the best in Scotland but had the worst such provisions in the Scottish Premiership.

Stewart Milne, the club chairman, hopes construction can begin as early as March, but the club will now face a legal challenge from an opposition group. Yesterday was a huge step, but it is not over yet.