Consultants assess stadium sites

Two consultancy firms have been appointed to pinpoint a site for Aberdeen's proposed community stadium.

It is part of a feasibility study into the joint city council and Aberdeen Football Club (AFC) project.

Two sites have been identified for the development, the King's Links near the beach and Loirston Loch at Nigg.

The 22,000-seat stadium would provide a new home for Aberdeen. The project is expected to cost more than £50m and it is hoped it could be built by 2012.

The Arena project team said a specialist civil engineering firm and a transport planning company had been appointed.

Aberdeen City Council leader Kate Dean, who is a member of the Arena project advisory and monitoring board, said it was essential to fully investigate the suitability and, ultimately, deliverability of both sites.