Early work has begun on Aberdeen Football Club’s new £50 million stadium.
McIntosh Plant Hire has been appointed for the first phase of works for the stadiumand training facilities, which are being built at Kingsford, between Westhill and Kingswells.
The Echt-based firm will carry out the earthworks and ground remediation in preparation for the construction of the community and training facilities.
This phase will include building the training pavilion, groundsman’s accommodation, three professional training pitches, two 3G pitches and two grass pitches.
The firm’s vehicles have already been spotted on the site, with a club spokesman saying they had begun putting up temporary security fencing.
It is expected more major work will begin in the coming weeks, with the Dons confident enough to push ahead – despite the potential legal challenge being mounted by opponents No To Kingsford Stadium.
As part of the contract – the first to be issued – McIntosh Plant Hire will get the site ready for construction to begin later in the summer.
Bert McIntosh said he was thrilled his firm was involved in the project, as the family are “lifelong supporters of the Dons”.
He said: “It’s a privilege for us to be involved in this historic and ambitious project that is crucial to the on-going success of the club.
“We hope to get work under way as soon as possible and will be securing the site in the next few days.”
Following full consent for its plans, AFC has issued tenders for various elements around the construction of phase one.
The total value of this phase is around £10 million and the club has promised to appoint local firms “wherever possible”. Contracts for the overall project are anticipated to safeguard or create around 150 jobs initially.
The Dons want the first phase to be complete by next autumn.
Project director Raymond Edgar added: “This contract award is another major milestone in our journey towards facilities from which the club and the wider community will benefit.
“We are erecting security fencing around the boundary of the site. This is a safety measure and part of the preparation for the groundworks contractor getting underway in a few weeks.
“This will ensure that we can start the work as soon as the contracts have been awarded and the relevant planning conditions have been finalised, ensuring we remain within our original timescales for the delivery of phase one which includes the community sports hub and training facilities.”
The No Kingsford Stadium group declined to comment.