Provost of Aberdeenshire Councillor Bill Howatson stuck the ceremonial spade into the ground signifying the start of the construction of Banchory Sports Village at a special event on Friday morning.

The sports village and café is being built on vacant land to the north of Hill of Banchory Primary School. Various planning applications will see 130 homes, a care village and shops being built on the site.

To be delivered by McLaughlin and Harvey, the sports centre will be a rectangular building extending 9m high and will be constructed with a mixture of materials that match the nearby school.

It will feature a six-lane swimming pool, training pool, three court sports hall, fitness suite, exercise room and squash courts, changing facilities, storage rooms, staff facilities, public viewing areas and a café.

There will also be 103 parking spaces, five of which will be for disability use, plus five bicycle and three motorbike or moped spaces, along with a footpath linking the sports centre to the school.

“It is absolutely fantastic that building has now begun on this much wanted state-of-the-art sports village in Banchory,” said Provost Howatson.

“I am sure that children and adults alike will enjoy visiting it once it has been built.”

Councillor Anne Stirling, Aberdeenshire Council communities committee chair, said: “I would like to pay tribute to our partners who have contributed significantly to the vision and development of what will be fantastic facilities.

“It has been a great example of a collaborative approach to delivering local services. We will continue to engage with the residents of Banchory and ensure that there is an appropriate method of communication throughout the construction process.

“I would like to make particular mention of the fund-raising group, Banchory Sports Village, who raised £700,000 towards the project.”

It is anticipated the sports centre will officially open in May 2019.