Opponents of the new £50million Dons stadium will head to court today to challenge the approval of the scheme.
Lawyers acting for No to Kingsford will head to the Court of Session in Edinburgh for a judicial review into the handling of Aberdeen Football Club’s application.
The group is challenging the council’s decision to allow planning permission for the stadium and training facilities.
While work has begun on the first phase of the development, which includes training facilities, construction of the second stage – the 20,000 seat stadium itself – is dependent on the outcome of the hearing, which is scheduled to last three days.
Last night, Aberdeen FC bosses said they were “confident due process was followed”.
Raymond Edgar, project director for the club, said: “Our proposal represents a £50million private investment in the region, which will benefit the club, the local community and the region overall. We are committed to contracting local companies in its construction and those appointed for phase one are already supporting and creating local jobs.
“Work is well under way on phase one and will only stop if the courts find against the council following the hearing.
“The hearing will only look at the process by which the planning application was granted and we are confident that due process was followed, allowing councillors to vote overwhelmingly to grant consent.”
An NKS spokeswoman said: “”Tomorrow’s hearing will bring independent and impartial scrutiny to Aberdeen City Council’s decision to grant planning permission for Aberdeen Football Club’s new stadium and associated facilities at West Kingsford.
“In reaching this important stage in proceedings, we have demonstrated that communities can challenge decisions which they believe are flawed.”
