A new report claims the economic benefits expected from Aberdeen FC’s proposed move to a new stadium have been “grossly overstated”.
The Dons submitted plans to move to a new £50million ground at Kingsford in Westhill in January this year.
But the plans were put on hold in October following a pre-determination hearing with a new public consultation launched.
A report from the Aberdeen Grampian Chamber of Commerce recently predicted the new stadium could bring millions of pounds into the local economy.
But the No Kingsford Stadium (NKS) campaign group has now released new research claiming there would be no great economic benefits.
The objectors commissioned MKA Economics, based in Stirling, to carry out their own research with the development consultancy findings suggesting there could be more harm instead.
NKS director Clare Davidson said: “The economic case presented by AFC is flawed and the economic benefit is grossly overstated.”
The findings state that the AGCC report lacks clarity and consistency.
However, Raymond Edgar, project director of Kingsford, said the previous report was more reliable.
He said: “This report has been commissioned by those objecting to our plans and produced by a Stirling-based company.
“Of more relevance and importance is the comment and review from expert economists within the council who are satisfied with our findings.”
He added that analysis supporting the move would “stand up to scrutiny.”
He said: “The methodologies we have used are compliant to HM Treasury guidelines and well understood.
“Both Aberdeen Grampian Chamber of Commerce and EKOS house recognised experts in this specific field who understand the economics of the north-east.
“This analysis will stand up to scrutiny and demonstrates the net economic benefit of the new stadium complex, while exposing opportunity and risks.”
He added: “The council asked us to consider further scenarios in our latest report and, under these scenarios and methods of calculation using all the information we have, the economic impact is greater, even in the most conservative scenario.”
