Planners recommend Aberdeen stadium for conditional approval
Aberdeen Football Club’s application for planning consent for a new stadium and associated training and community facilities at Kingsford has been recommended for approval by planners.
About this development:
- Authority:Aberdeen City
- Type:Leisure
- Applications:
- Team:Morrison Construction (contractor), WM Donald (civil engineer), Hunter Construction (sub-contractor), Greentech (sub-contractor), Hutcheon Services (M&E services), McIntosh Plant Hire (earthworks and ground remediation )
Planning officials said Aberdeen City Council should approve the proposals for the new 20,000 seat Kingsford stadium 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.
In total, the football club will have to agree to 40 stringent conditions before they can proceed with the £50 million project.
A full report on the proposal and its recommendations will be considered by councillors at a special meeting of the full council on Monday.
The report said: “It is considered that the proposal would have significant public benefits for the region - both economic and social.”
It explains: “Should members resolve to approve the application, due to the objection from Aberdeenshire Council, formal notification must be given to Scottish Minsters, who would then have the opportunity to ‘call-in’ the application for determination.”
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.
Objections have been raised on grounds including potential traffic issues and loss of green belt land.
Aberdeen Football Club chairman, Stewart Milne, welcomed the recommendation and vowed to work hard with officers to address “both the real and perceived issues” about the new stadium.
The Stewart Milne Group executive chairman said: “We are very pleased that the planners are recommending approval of our planning application for a community sports hub, training facilities and new stadium at Kingsford.
“The additional information supplied in the last few months has helped reinforce the strength of our economic case and the need for co-location. We believe it also underlined that Kingsford is the only viable, suitable and therefore deliverable site for the club.
“We will meet the conditions and work hard to address both the real and perceived issues particularly around transportation and traffic management.”
The meeting to determine the application will begin at 10.30am in the council chamber at the Town House on January 29 and will be available to view as a live webcast.