Aberdeen Riding Club has submitted planning permission for a new state-of-the-art equestrian centre in the heart of Aberdeen.
The current ARC premises Oldfold Farm, at Milltimber, which extends to 120 acres has been earmarked for development within the Aberdeen City Local Development Plan (2012).
As a result, the club must relocate by 2016, when the scheduled build of 550 new homes by property developers Cala will begin.
During its search for a new premises ARC identified Nether Anguston on the outskirts of Aberdeen City, at Peterculter, as a suitable new home and the club signed a lease on the productive block of farmland last year.
Now, it has lodged plans with Aberdeen Council to build a modern, fit-for-purpose riding school and associated buildings on the site.
The build will include a new indoor riding school with two arenas to enable “year-round riding”, stabling for riding school horses and a further 60 privately owned liveries, as well as an outdoor, all-weather arena.
Ancillary areas and buildings will provide feed stores, tack rooms, an office/reception, toilets and wash facilities and a viewing gallery for spectators.
According to ARC’s planning submission, Nether Anguston provides the only available site within Aberdeen City boundaries which meets the requirements for the relocation of the club, due to size, location and transport links.
It said ARC will have to cease trading if the planning is not granted.