Aberdeen FC Kingsford stadium gets official planning permission

Aberdeen FC has been granted official planning permission for a new stadium and training complex.

Aberdeen City Council's planning department formally approved the £50m development at Kingsford, near Westhill.

The club hopes to begin construction of the 20,000-capacity stadium in June.

Plans were put on hold last October but the council approved them in January. The No Kingsford Stadium protest group is pursuing a judicial review.

Aberdeen FC chairman Stewart Milne said: "This is yet another piece of good news in our long-running saga to secure badly-needed training and community facilities.

"It's now clear from planning and legal experts that the objectors cannot stop these plans.

"At best, they could hold them up for a matter of months, but ultimately our plans will go ahead."

The protest group is still raising funds for the legal action.

Clare Davidson, of No Kingsford Stadium, told BBC Scotland: "This is the only avenue that is open to communities to challenge these decisions.

"Now that the determination has been made, we have 90 days to make our petition.

"We still have a little bit of work to do with our legal team."

Aberdeen FC believes the new facilities are vital to its future, but objectors claimed the stadium should be located elsewhere.

The plans will not be called in by the Scottish government.