Long-awaited plans for a new £8.5million leisure and sports facility in a popular Aberdeenshire town were officially submitted this week.
Aberdeenshire Council has launched an application to create a state-of-the-art leisure facility in Banchory.
The sports village includes a six-lane swimming pool, a training pool, three-court sports hall, fitness suite, squash courts, changing facilities, café and reception.
The development, stretching over 1.2 hectares, would be built on brownfield land to the north of Hill of Banchory.
Councillors backed outline proposals for the Banchory community sports centre last October.
Residents have been calling for upgraded sporting facilities in the Deeside town for many years, with the swimming pool at Banchory Academy only 20m in length.
Aberdeenshire council also tasked local residents to raise £700,000 towards the project.
Fundraising manager for the Banchory Sports Village Trust, James Knowles, said: “We have currently secured £650,000 which is just unbelievable.
“The support from the community has been fantastic, and with so many people being involved, from both small to large contributions, it is a huge benefit to the project.”
Mr Knowles also added that the trust was thrilled to see the application being launched.
He said: “We feel now that good progress is being made, the application is now in the frame for planning permission and it is hoped that, once contractors are appointed, the building will commence next summer.
“The facility has been spoken about for a long time, other towns in Aberdeenshire have received these facilities and we have missed out.
“But now we hope to provide an excellent six-lane swimming pool, sports courts and it will be something the community can be proud of.
“This has been an idea that has been in the pipeline for 20 years, if not more, and here we are finally getting the ball moving.”
A spokeswoman for Aberdeenshire Council said: “The project is expected to cost around £8.5 million, £700,000 of which is a contribution from Banchory Sports Village Trust after significant fundraising by the community.
“There is ongoing engagement with the local residents and the groups that will use the centre and a public consultation will take place as part of the planning process.
“The current sports centre will complement the new facility and will support Banchory Academy in delivering the PE and wider curriculum.”
