Aberdeen FC stadium plan hits opposition

A group opposed to the development of Aberdeen football Club’s proposed new stadium have claimed the project will cause negative environmental impacts and produce very little value to the local economy.

The ‘Say No to Kingsford Stadium’ group has set up an online campaign where it is trying to raise £3,000 (US$3,969, €3,593) in donations to commission research via independent environmental, planning and traffic consultants to assess the impact of the new stadium development.

Last month, the Scottish Premiership team revealed its plans to apply for planning permission in the Kingsford part of the city after originally plumping for Loirston. The proposed development will include a new stadium, a community and sports campus and an academy.

Chief executive Duncan Fraser had said the project would “deliver wider economic and social benefits to the region”, but the claims have been queried by the group.

Via its nokingsfordstadium.org.uk website, the group highlights increased congestion on roads, parking problems for residents and “visual and envirnomental impact” that stadium would allegedly cause. It has also suggested that there would be “no employment of economic benefit to be derived from the new stadium development” – with local trade in particular being hit.

A consultation period for the project will begin next week in which supporters, local residents and other stakeholders will be able to air their views.

The consultation process, said a club spokesperson, will “inform the submission of a planning application later this year”.

“We appreciate that they project will attract a spectrum of views but believe there is a compelling case for the creation of community and training facilities and a new stadium in this location,” added the spokesperson. “The development will support the ambition of the club, the fans and the AFC Community Trust in the work it does on promoting sport, community engagement, healthy lifestyles and social inclusion.

“The opportunity is to create a significant sporting, community and social asset that benefits the north-east as a whole and at this time of economic transition the region needs projects of scale and ambition that will deliver long term benefits.”