Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen FC has secured the legal go-ahead for its plans to build a new £50m stadium.

A planning application for the 20,000-seater development – proposed for the Kingsford are of the city – was lodged in early 2017 and includes a football academy comprising outdoor pitches, pavilion and ancillary buildings; and community sports facilities.

The plans faced the threat of a lengthy judicial review, as campaigners claimed the site was an incursion into green belt land, and had presented alternative locations for the project.

Lord Tyre, however, refused the petition from a pressure group called "No Kingsford Stadium" to have the project reviewed.

Aberdeen has already secured the support of the city council for the stadium project, designed by architects Halliday Fraser Munro.

“The outcome of the judicial review is welcome news for the club, the Council and the wider region," said Aberdeen FC chair Stewart Milne.

"We can now confidently complete phase one, the community sports hub and training facilities, and start moving towards delivery of phase two, AFC’s new stadium.

“We’ve already been engaging positively with local residents and community groups who support our plans.

"But, following this decision, we will reach out to the whole community, even those who have objected to the plans, so that we can work positively with them to deliver a community sports hub that meets their aspirations, best-in-class football training facilities and, ultimately, a stadium that the whole region can be proud of.”