Councillors have approved funding for a new community hall at Newmachar, Aberdeenshire.

The move sees the project take another step forward after the Newmachar Community Hall Association (NCHA) has been raising funds for the build for a number of years.

The total project is expected to cost £1.2m, but on Thursday, the council approved additional funding of £380k.

The funds will help to secure time-limited funding from LEADER and SportScotland and will allow the hall to be constructed. The group wants to build a modern, fit-for-purpose community facility for the village, which has expanded rapidly over the last decade.

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The latest funding is comprised of a "soft load" of up to £182k from the Education, Learning & Leisure Service and £198k from the Six Key Areas for Development earmarked reserve.

Committee Vice-Chair, Councillor Martin Kitts-Hayes, said: "I think this is a fantastic project. There has been a very strong drive from the local community to see this project come together.

"It is a great example of how a local community can identify a need locally and drive that need forward without relying on the council to get up and running."

The new Newmachar Community Hall will include sports and recreation facilities, a community hub and could provide a base for NHS outreach clinics. The NCHA has already secured around £1m towards the project, including £95k of local fundraising.

(JP/H)