New Aberdeen Stadium
Encyclopedia
The New Aberdeen Stadium is a proposed stadium in Aberdeen
, Scotland
. It would be the home stadium of Scottish Premier League
football club Aberdeen
. The stadium would replace Pittodrie
and would be located near Cove Bay
and Loirston Loch in the far south of Aberdeen.
was not possible due to the age of the ground and the restrictions from surrounding land. The severe disruption to the clubs activities, and the potential to wipe out some of the clubs debt by selling the club owned land for redevelopment, moreover, made a new stadium the only viable option. In July 2008, the club reiterated their desire to move forwards with a new 22,000 seat stadium, despite the financial crisis that had hit Aberdeen City Council
in recent months. The plan is unrelated to the proposed stadium also being built in the city.
for the new stadium. The majority of fans responding to a questionnaire on the proposal from Aberdeen Supporters Trust opposed the building of the new stadium on the site. Amongst the 10% of Aberdeen fans who replied, 81.2% were against the location of the new stadium, and that the second site of Kings Links adjacent to the existing Pittodrie would be their first choice. 62.8% said they would attend fewer matches if the move was to go ahead. The Board considered that a site adjacent to Aberdeen's present home of Pittodrie Stadium
was too small and too expensive.
The proposed site is within a Green Belt
area, which the local council may donate to the project.. Concerns have been raised over the new site due to the need to develop over Aberdeen's only fresh-water loch
, and the resultant need for large car parking facilities. Approval for the project would trigger consent for other property developers who have had outline plans for this particular area for a number of years, but until now have been refused due to the Green Belt
status.
Aberdeen City Council
deferred a decision until the next full meeting of the local authority. The full council approved the project in May 2009, subject to planning permission
. In August 2010, a planning application for the new stadium was submitted to the Council, which was approved in February 2011.
It was announced in August 2011 that Barr Construction Ltd
will be the contractor for the construction of the stadium, which is scheduled to begin in 2012.
intends to sell its current home, Pittodrie Stadium
, for housing development. This project received outline planning approval in April 2011.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It would be the home stadium of Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
football club Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
. The stadium would replace Pittodrie
Pittodrie Stadium
Pittodrie Stadium is an all-seated football stadium situated in the Scottish city of Aberdeen. It was first used in 1899 and from 1903 has been the home of Aberdeen Football Club...
and would be located near Cove Bay
Cove Bay
Cove Bay is a suburb on the south-east edge of Aberdeen, Scotland. The 2001 Census showed the population as 7,157 .Today Cove is a popular residential location owing to its village-like status and the nearby Altens and Tullos Industrial Estates, affording ample employment opportunities...
and Loirston Loch in the far south of Aberdeen.
Background
Plans for a new stadium began when the club indicated that further development of Pittodrie StadiumPittodrie Stadium
Pittodrie Stadium is an all-seated football stadium situated in the Scottish city of Aberdeen. It was first used in 1899 and from 1903 has been the home of Aberdeen Football Club...
was not possible due to the age of the ground and the restrictions from surrounding land. The severe disruption to the clubs activities, and the potential to wipe out some of the clubs debt by selling the club owned land for redevelopment, moreover, made a new stadium the only viable option. In July 2008, the club reiterated their desire to move forwards with a new 22,000 seat stadium, despite the financial crisis that had hit Aberdeen City Council
Aberdeen City Council
Aberdeen City Council represents the Aberdeen City council area of Scotland.The council area was created in 1996, under the Local Government etc. Act 1994...
in recent months. The plan is unrelated to the proposed stadium also being built in the city.
Planning consent
In April 2009, the Arena Project Board recommended a site in NiggNigg, Aberdeen
Nigg is an area of Aberdeen, Scotland, south of the River Dee. The area has a bay known as the Bay of Nigg or Nigg Bay, immediately south of a coastal golf course, and a farm that is also a visitor attraction, known as Doonies Farm.-History:...
for the new stadium. The majority of fans responding to a questionnaire on the proposal from Aberdeen Supporters Trust opposed the building of the new stadium on the site. Amongst the 10% of Aberdeen fans who replied, 81.2% were against the location of the new stadium, and that the second site of Kings Links adjacent to the existing Pittodrie would be their first choice. 62.8% said they would attend fewer matches if the move was to go ahead. The Board considered that a site adjacent to Aberdeen's present home of Pittodrie Stadium
Pittodrie Stadium
Pittodrie Stadium is an all-seated football stadium situated in the Scottish city of Aberdeen. It was first used in 1899 and from 1903 has been the home of Aberdeen Football Club...
was too small and too expensive.
The proposed site is within a Green Belt
Green belt
A green belt or greenbelt is a policy and land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighbouring urban areas. Similar concepts are greenways or green wedges which have a linear character and may run through an...
area, which the local council may donate to the project.. Concerns have been raised over the new site due to the need to develop over Aberdeen's only fresh-water loch
Loch
Loch is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic word for a lake or a sea inlet. It has been anglicised as lough, although this is pronounced the same way as loch. Some lochs could also be called a firth, fjord, estuary, strait or bay...
, and the resultant need for large car parking facilities. Approval for the project would trigger consent for other property developers who have had outline plans for this particular area for a number of years, but until now have been refused due to the Green Belt
Green belt
A green belt or greenbelt is a policy and land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighbouring urban areas. Similar concepts are greenways or green wedges which have a linear character and may run through an...
status.
Aberdeen City Council
Aberdeen City Council
Aberdeen City Council represents the Aberdeen City council area of Scotland.The council area was created in 1996, under the Local Government etc. Act 1994...
deferred a decision until the next full meeting of the local authority. The full council approved the project in May 2009, subject to planning permission
Planning permission
Planning permission or planning consent is the permission required in the United Kingdom in order to be allowed to build on land, or change the use of land or buildings. Within the UK the occupier of any land or building will need title to that land or building , but will also need "planning...
. In August 2010, a planning application for the new stadium was submitted to the Council, which was approved in February 2011.
It was announced in August 2011 that Barr Construction Ltd
Barr Construction Ltd
Barr Construction is a major Scottish contracting organisation operating throughout the United Kingdom.- History :The Company began life at the end of the nineteenth century as a joinery firm known as W & J Barr & Sons and gradually expanded into civil engineering projects...
will be the contractor for the construction of the stadium, which is scheduled to begin in 2012.
Funding
Aberdeen F.C.Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
intends to sell its current home, Pittodrie Stadium
Pittodrie Stadium
Pittodrie Stadium is an all-seated football stadium situated in the Scottish city of Aberdeen. It was first used in 1899 and from 1903 has been the home of Aberdeen Football Club...
, for housing development. This project received outline planning approval in April 2011.