An £8.5million sports centre in Aberdeenshire has moved a step closer to realisation after plans for the project were accepted.

Councillors at Aberdeenshire Council have granted planning permission for the centre, which will consist of a six-lane swimming pool, training pool, three-court sports hall, fitness suite, squash courts, changing facilities and reception.

The local authority will be pumping £7.8m into the facility in Banchory, with the remaining £700,000 being raised by a sports village Trust. It has so far raised £670,000.

Work on the new centre will start in summer 2017 and is expected to be built by the end of 2018.

Chair of the council’s education, learning and leisure committee, councillor Alison Evison, said: “The granting of planning permission is a major step forward for what is a very exciting project that will give a real boost to sports groups in Banchory and the surrounding area.”

Keith Mair, Banchory Sports Village Trust chair, added: “So far we’ve raised £670,000 and that wouldn’t have happened without the fantastic effort from all the clubs who have been strong supporters of what we’re doing.

“It’s going to be a wonderfully comprehensive facility and the £700,000 the community raise will enable us to get an enhancement to the standard facilities that would be provided.”