A North-east cancer charity has secured planning permission to build a purpose-designed cancer support centre in Aberdeen.

CLAN (Cancer Link Aberdeen and North) has secured approval from Aberdeen City Council to build on the Park House site, on Westburn Road, Aberdeen, having agreed a long term lease with the Council for the site. Demolition work on the site is expected to start within the next few weeks and the new building shortly thereafter.

The new centre will allow the charity to expand its provision of services, including an increased number of therapy and counselling rooms enabling clients to access the charity’s wide range of services in a shorter period of time.

The site will also house an expanded accommodation facility, offering additional rooms for people, and their families, travelling to Aberdeen for treatment, while a dedicated children’s area and an extensive garden will ensure all visitors to the facility are catered for.

-- Advertisement --

The charity has been raising funds for the new centre during the past two years and has met its initial fundraising target of £3million thanks to the dedication and support of people throughout the North and East of Scotland. But the campaign continues.

Debbie Thomson, CLAN’s chief executive, is delighted that the charity can begin looking towards the reality of the new base.

Debbie said: “We are delighted to have received planning approval for our new support centre on the Park House site this morning. We have been working towards this landmark for some time now and it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of so many individuals, families, companies and communities throughout the North-east, Orkney and Shetland. We have been bowled over by the warmth and level of support CLAN has received from the community.

“However securing a larger site coupled with an increase in building costs mean that our fundraising continues. Our priority is to ensure the new centre is as comfortable and user friendly as possible.”

Councillor Callum McCaig, vice-convener of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure said: "This is an important development for CLAN and a sensible and sensitive use of a vacant building. CLAN does a huge amount of great work in and around Aberdeen and this new facility will enable the charity to significantly improve on the services it already provides to people living with cancer and their families. I wish them all the best in this project and their future operations.

"The development is not only good for CLAN, it will also be a great boon to the city."

CLAN is an independent charity which offers support to anyone affected by cancer. Based in Aberdeen, the charity covers the whole of Grampian, Orkney and Shetland.

(GK)