Aberdeen City Council Approve New Stadium Plans

Aberdeen City Council have voted to approve the new Aberdeen FC stadium at Kingsford subject to planning conditions.

Councillors voted 32 to 9 in favour of the application.

The decision was taken today (Monday 29 January 2018)  at a special meeting of the full Council.

The Dons intend to replace Pittodrie with a 20,000-seat ground and training academy on the other side of the city at Kingsford, Westhill.

Planners noted in their report: “Should members resolve to approve the application, due to the objection from Aberdeenshire Council, formal notification must be given to Scottish ministers, who would then have the opportunity to ‘call-in’ the application for determination.”

Aberdeen FC chairman Stewart Milne said: “After 17 years, we are one step closer to a new home that will allow us to meet our vision and ambition.

“We applaud the Councillors for taking this decision in the face of considerable objections.

“We are fully aware of and sympathetic to those in Westhill and Kingswells who have objected to our plans and I want to reassure them once more that we want to engage with them to deliver community facilities they can all enjoy and benefit from.”

The proposal divided opinion in Aberdeen, with slightly over half of residents in favour.

Opponents are concerned about the impact increased traffic could have on Westhill.

However, Aberdeen FC has said there are no other available sites for the stadium, which could now be ready for the start of the 2020/21 season.