Aberdeen Football Club has moved “a critical step forward” in their plans to build a new 21,000-seat arena.
The Scottish Government decided not to call in the planning application for the glow-in-the-dark stadium at Loirston Loch.
The new stadium will replace the century-old Pittodrie stadium if the Scottish Premier League club can raise funds and meet conditions set by the Aberdeen City Council.
The club’s Chief Executive Duncan Fraser said: “With the continuing support of our major shareholders and the bank we can now move
forward in the coming months to bring together a funding package.”
He added that the club will be working hard to finalise the complex legal agreements but he expects to have planning approval within the next couple of months. The club has been hoping for a new stadium for over a decade.
An earlier plan for a site near Kingswells received over 4,000 objections.
The new plans have also attracted objections.
There are concerns within the community about the impact the new site will have on roads and local wildlife habitats. Despite these concerns, ministers chose to support the plans.
A spokeswoman for the SNP administration at Holyrood confirmed: “Ministers have considered the application and concluded that there are no sufficient grounds to merit intervention.”
Councillors approved the development by 23 votes to 17. Nigg Community Council Chairman Alan Strachan raised his concerns about the decision.
He said: “Because of the tight vote at the council I would have thought it would be in the government’s interest to call it in.”
A 1,400-space car park is proposed as well as a 1,000-capacity supporter’s bar.
(Photo courtesy of RedWeb)
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