Dublin City Council have given the green light to the design and planning stages of the Dalymount Park redevelopment, with over €918,000 in investment from the government also confirmed.
The completed project, targeting a finish for the 2025 season, will see the stadium used by both Bohemians and Shelbourne in the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland.
Dublin City Council revealed today's update in a statement released via Bohemians.
"Dublin City Council is pleased to announce that a grant agreement has now been signed with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media (DTCAGSM) in relation to the Dalymount Park Redevelopment Project. The allocation of €918,750 from the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) will part-fund the design and planning elements of the project.
"Dublin City Council is now in a position to appoint an architect-led integrated design team that will begin their work shortly on the preliminary design. During this process there will be consultation with all the relevant stakeholders including both Bohemian FC and Shelbourne FC and the wider North Dublin community.
"Dalymount Park is one of the city council’s major capital infrastructure projects, which will not only improve the sporting infrastructure of the city, but play a major in role in the regeneration and enhancement of the Public Domain in Phibsborough."
FAI welcomes latest Government investment in Dalymount Park project
➡️ https://t.co/bBgAY6e8bq#LOI | @DubCityCouncil | @bfcdublin | @shelsfc pic.twitter.com/7J1StwaHfE— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) April 9, 2021
The current plan is to develop:
- A four-sided enclosed (bowl) municipal stadium 6000 capacity UEFA category 3 stadium
- New north, south, east and west stands
- New community stand (east) – 1,000m² at first floor level including library, flexible community space, meeting rooms etc. plus c.1,000m² of concourse space at ground level which could potentially be utilised for community activities and events on non-match days.
- New football stand (west) – UEFA Category 3 facilities plus club offices and meeting rooms incl. c250m² of hospitality/community space
FAI Chief Executive Jonathan Hill said the finalised stadium will transform sport in Dublin.
"Dalymount Park is an iconic Irish football stadium and this project will deliver a world class stadium to the north side of Ireland’s capital city. I want to again thank Government and Dublin City Council for their continued support of this project and wish all the stakeholders well with the next steps."
The FAI’s Head of Facility Development Walter Holleran added:
"The FAI has worked closely with Bohemian FC, Shelbourne, DCC and the Department on this project and we thank Government for the funding which brings us to the next stage.
"The recent news is all positive on improving our League of Ireland facilities at Tallaght Stadium, the new Finn Harps ground and now Dalymount Park. We thank all stakeholders for their support and look forward to supporting the completion of all these projects."
League of Ireland Director Mark Scanlon also commented on the news:
"The FAI is committed to improving every facet of the League of Ireland offering for our supporters so this is most welcome news today. Bohemians and Shelbourne will have a world class facility to be proud of when this project is completed and, like them, I am excited at the prospect of a new Dalymount Park."
🏟️ Dublin City Council has issued an update on the redevelopment of Dalymount Park: https://t.co/6HMaLWaPAo pic.twitter.com/FAVQLYnGYs
— Bohemian Football Club (@bfcdublin) April 9, 2021
The Lord Mayor of Dublin Hazel Chu has welcomed the announcement.
"The redevelopment of this iconic stadium will provide a modern facility that will not just be of benefit to Bohemian FC and Shelbourne FC but the wider Dublin Community through the provision of a state of the art multi-functional facility."
In relation to the finalisation of the grant agreement, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin T.D. stated:
“I am delighted that work is progressing on the Dalymount Park project. The funding being provided by my Department will allow the detailed design work to be completed and I look forward to further engagement with Dublin City Council when the project is ready to move to the construction stage.
"While it is particularly significant for the soccer community, the project will benefit the entire community and play a significant part in the regeneration of the Phibsborough area."
The Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht, Jack Chambers T.D. also welcomed the progress:
“I am delighted that the proposed Dalymount redevelopment project is now moving to the next stage. I want to see continued investment in our sporting infrastructure through both the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund and will continue to make the case for enhanced investment in these programmes in the coming years.
"The new Dalymount stadium will be a significant boost for the League of Ireland and I wish Dublin City Council, Shelbourne FC and Bohemian FC every success with the project."
A number of enabling works will get underway within the next 12 months that will include the removal of the Des Kelly Stand roof, and the demolition of the Connaught St Terrace by way of a Part 8 Planning Permission.
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