Developers make their move in 50,000-seater stadium project

A planning application for a 50,000-seater stadium at Lansdowne Road, approved by the Government two years ago, is to be lodged with Dublin City Council within days.

The demolition of the existing ground and its replacement with a €365 million stadium is projected to begin in early 2007 and to be completed within just over two years.

However, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and the Irish Rugby Football Association (IRFU) are set to have a tough battle ahead to secure planning permission for all aspects of the project.

The planning application relates to a 6.55 hectare site, which incorporates the current stadium, including back pitches currently used for training. However, the plans also require portions of residential lands, some of which are attached to protected structures, and the demolition of a substantial Victorian house.

More controversial still is the request to acquire a strip of the Dodder Walk, the scenic riverbank along the River Dodder, a popular local amenity within the ownership of the city council.

With the new stadium having a 20 per cent larger footprint than the existing ground, within a densely built-up area, it was inevitable that some residential lands would be required.

A double-fronted Victorian house at No 70 Shelbourne Road, now owned by Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company, is set for demolition to make way for a new entrance to the ground. Part of the perimeter wall of No 62 Lansdowne Road will also be demolished - a first World War memorial plaque attached to part of the wall will be re-erected within the new stadium.

An as yet unspecified area of the river bank will also form a new entrance to the ground and the entrance to an underground car park.

The eight-storey 48-metre high stadium will include restaurants and bars, significantly improved players' facilities, as well as entertainment and conference rooms and broadcasting facilities.

Some 200 car parking spaces will be provided under a new back pitch largely facilitated by the River Dodder lands. There will also be a 12½-metre underpass beneath the Dart line, so that rugby and soccer fans will no longer be blocked by the level crossing when trains are passing.

Elected officials unusually have no involvement in determining planning applications. Councillors will frequently make recommendations to planning officials but decisions on whether or not to grant an application are the preserve of council management.

However, in this case the application cannot be passed without the sanction of the councillors, specifically because of the request for the section of the Dodder Walk.

Disposal of council lands is a function of councillors who are unlikely to let any of the walkway easily fall into private hands. While it is unlikely that the application for the Dodder lands will be met with a complete refusal, no degradation of the amenity, or reduction of access, is likely to be permitted.