A group of horse-lovers, whose future had been hanging in the balance, were celebrating last night after councillors approved a new centre.
Aberdeen Riding Club’s new school – with space for 90 horses – will be built at Nether Anguston, three miles from Culter.
The proposals came before Aberdeen City Council’s planning development management committee yesterday.
And, despite a recommendation from officers that the plans should be rejected, the development was voted through.
The club – which has 400 members, making it the biggest of its kind in Scotland – had been faced with closure as the 10-year lease at its current base, Oldform Farm, is drawing to an end.
The club will not be able to renew the agreement as the site has been earmarked for a residential development consisting of 550 new homes.
Concerns had also been raised about the future of the local branch of the Riding for the Disabled Association, with more than 50 adults and children receiving therapy at the current centre each week.
A report into the plans had recommended rejection, saying: “The proposed development by reason of its scale, form, mass and attendant works would demonstrably harm the distinctive character and appearance of the landscape and the Green Belt, together with its unsustainable location.”
However, the majority of councillors voted to set aside the advice and allow the proposals to go ahead.
Speaking last night, committee member Councillor Bill Cormie said he was delighted the club now had a new home.
He said: “The common sense approach was to go against officers’ recommendations.
“This is an important development for Aberdeen, and particularly for disabled riders.
“Officers had recommended we reject the proposals because the new centre would be on green-belt land, but as far as I’m concerned this is an agricultural development, and if you can’t have that on green belt land then what can you have?”
The new facility will have an indoor riding track with stable space for 26 horses.
Elsewhere, the site will include stables with space for 63 horses, a wash and feed facility and toilets.
The centre will also boast an outdoor riding track, and parking spaces for 55 cars.