ABERDEEN have been given the go-ahead for a new £50m stadium and training complex.

But a protest group which has opposed the scheme vowed to continue their fight, arguing the city council’s process towards the granting of the planning application was flawed.

The complex, at Kingsford which is seven outside the city centre, will be built on greenbelt land with the club stating there were no other appropriate sites available

Stewart Milne, the Aberdeen chairman, said: "We put forward a very strong case and heard from the bulk of the councillors how important the club is to the region and how important the new stadium will be.

“The No1 priority is to deliver the training and community facilities. It still has to be cleared by the Scottish government and I hope we’ll get that clearance in March and be using it in the summer of 2019 with the stadium being ready for season 2021-22.”

A spokeswoman for the No Kingsford group said “We have shown that the application is contrary to the development plan and our position is supported by the Strategic Planning authority, Aberdeenshire Council and the local community councils"

“It is our view that council officials and councillors have failed in their duty to apply the law in this case and we will now progress our petition for judicial review.”