Loirston Loch in Nigg has today (Friday, April 3) been recommended as the optimum location for a new community stadium in Aberdeen.

It follows a year long series of feasibility studies to analyse the deliverability of both this locality and the King's Links, near Aberdeen Beach. Prior to this, a number of potential sites across the city were examined by both AFC and Aberdeen City Council and all were assessed to be undeliverable.

Each site was examined in three key areas - the environmental assessment; travel and transport, and finally the business and design case.

The Arena Project Team, a partnership between Aberdeen Football Club and Aberdeen City Council, was tasked with overseeing the process of selecting the best locality for a new community stadium.

Expert consultants were appointed to carry out the feasibility studies - Faber Maunsell examined the environmental assessment, while travel and transport examination was carried out by SIAS Transport Planners and finally, Gardiner and Theobald scrutinised the business and design case.

A previous feasibility study which was carried out by international consultants, ARUP, in late 2007 also recommended Loirston as the most deliverable site for a new stadium.

A summary of the report's findings include:

• For the Environmental Impact Assessment, there were no insurmountable issues for either site
• The Traffic Impact Study concluded that Loirston could be sustainable based on similar transportation models and, with the proposed building of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, would offer a good location
• While both sites offered the potential for community facilities, given Cove Rangers FC support for Loirston, this location would offer extensive integrated community facilities while the restricted size of the King's Links site would reduce the potential for these facilities.
• The capital costs are lower for Loirston than the King's Links - £38million, compared to £42million (and the latter figure excludes third party relocation costs). There is potential funding from prospective partners for a significant proportion of this capital spend and commitment to a deliverable site could allow AFC to bridge this funding gap.
• In terms of ownership, the King's Links which is on Common Good land, has been deemed by legal opinion to be a riskier option and relocating the existing leaseholders could prove to be costly
• After initial findings from the feasibility work, the focus changed last year as commercial development (for example, hotels and offices) was not deemed to be economically viable, instead the studies were to concentrate on the community facilities

Duncan Fraser, Managing Director of Aberdeen Football Club and a member of the Arena Project Advisory and Monitoring Board, said the findings of the report mark a vital step towards the building of a new stadium in Aberdeen.

"When it was first decided to look at the two sites in December 2007, we knew that it was essential to carry out a detailed examination of each site to assess which was the most deliverable," he said.

"The bottom line is that it isn't viable to redevelop Pittodrie. It is an outdated stadium and we absolutely have to move, we have no other option but to relocate. We recognise how difficult this is for supporters as the beach area is for many the spiritual home of Aberdeen Football Club. These recommendations have still to be approved and at the appropriate time, there will be a full consultation process with all of our stakeholders including, of course, fans as their feedback and opinion is so important.

"For over a year now, the consultants, with support from both Aberdeen Football Club and Aberdeen City Council, have been working exceptionally hard, examining their particular area of expertise. They have looked at the strengths and the challenges of each of the sites and have assessed that Loirston is the most deliverable across the board - in terms of capital costs, enabling opportunities, timescales, risk mitigation and economic impact.

"As well as having a new home for Aberdeen Football Club, we should consider the economic and social benefits to the North-east.

"Research has proved that a new stadium would not just enhance the local economy but would provide an overall qualitative impact to an area and we feel strongly that this would be the case in Aberdeen.

"It has long been acknowledged that Aberdeen needs and deserves an iconic stadium and the Loirston site would be a natural gateway to the city. This report marks an exciting new stage in the bid to provide the local community with this facility.

"We would like to praise the consultants for their diligence and hard work and also thank all the local businesses and representatives who were interviewed as part of overall process.

Keith Moorhouse, Chairman of Cove Rangers FC, welcomed the report's recommendation and believes it opens the doors for a long term development of the area.

"The consultants have shown that Loirston is the only deliverable site for Aberdeen FC and this opens opportunity for Cove Rangers FC to deliver our own stadium at this location. It offers a fantastic opportunity for a real community approach in the area."

An economic impact analysis completed in 2006 determined that Aberdeen FC contributes at least £6 million per year to the local economy. The club also supports a total of 350 full time equivalent jobs.

The report will now go out to consultation and will be referred to the Policy and Strategy Committee on April 28.