Aberdeen Football Club (AFC) has been given the green light to proceed with proposals for a new 21,000-seat stadium on land near Loirston Loch.

Aberdeen City Council's full council voted 23-17 in favour of approving the scheme, which will now go before the Scottish Government for consideration. The 39.5-acre (16-hectare) development - due for completion ahead of the 2013-14 season - will also feature car parking, landscaping and access arrangements.

A cantilevered roof will cover all seating under the Miller Partnership-designed plans, with a south main stand to house club and hospitality facilities. The supporters' bar will be sited in the north west corner of the ground, while the police and stewards' facilities located in the north east.

A shop, a museum, a café, a ticket office, a gym, club offices and a classroom will be housed in the south west corner of the new stadium. AFC chief executive Duncan Fraser said: "Naturally we are delighted the elected members within Aberdeen City Council have taken on board the recommendations of their colleagues in the planning department.

"However, I would stress, while this is an important step in terms of AFC's move towards a new home, there remains a tremendous amount of work to be done before our vision becomes a reality." Image: Aberdeen FC/The Miller Partnership