Bohemian FC welcomes Dublin City Council formally lodging Part 8 Planning Application for the Redevelopment of Dalymount Park

Bohemian FC welcomes today’s confirmation that Dublin City Council has formally lodgeed the Part 8 Planning Application for the Dalymount Park Redevelopment Project.

The architect-led integrated design team, comprising IDOM & Gilroy McMahon, will shortly commence preparations for the detailed design phase of the project. During this process there will be further ongoing consultation by DCC with the club, the FAI and the wider North Dublin Community.

The design and planning elements of the project are being funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media (DTCAGSM) via the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) Stream 1.

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.

The current plan is to develop a new four-sided municipal stadium (c. 8,034 capacity) featuring:

• Reorientation of the pitch to a North/South Axis (105m x 68m) and installation of a new sand-based grass pitch
• New stands to the east and west side with provision for c. 6,240 seats and two new terraces to the north and south with provision for c. 1,794 standing
• The provision of a public thoroughfare along the eastern boundary connecting North Circular Road and Connaught Street to include various eateries and a new public plaza
• A community facility with an area of 585sq.m over two floors to include a multi-functional community room and a community gym
• The provision of modern match-day facilities for teams and officials

The first phase of enabling works, including the demolition of the Connaught Street Stand, have now been completed.

The current timeline for completion of the redeveloped stadium is the commencement of the 2027 season but this is very much dependent on further funding becoming available for the construction stage from Government (via Stream 2 of LSSIF).

Bohemian FC Chief Operating Office Daniel Lambert said: “Bohemian FC is delighted to mark this hugely significant day. Dalymount Park has hosted thousands of football games, enjoyed by millions of supporters, continuously since 1901, while also being an integral part of the general sporting, cultural and societal fabric of Dublin City. It has, however, long passed its capability to provide an appropriate, safe and modern facility for football and community use.

“We have engaged extensively with DCC since their acquisition of the stadium in 2015 and thank them for their considerable efforts to get us to this point; in particular the work of Brendan Kenny initially, and more recently Dick Shakespeare, both of whom have always shown a firm commitment to this historic site and recognise its positive role and function in the life of the city.

“We would also like to put on record our gratitude to various ministers for their engagement with the club over the years, in particular the strong support of Minister Paschal Donohoe, and also the cross-party support and engagement of many local TDs and councillors throughout the process.

“We expect the part-8 planning to be granted in early 2024 at the February DCC council meeting. We now call on the government to ensure that the appropriate funding mechanism is in place to enable progression to construction phase. As we have seen across capital projects with levels of inflation, any delays to the process can cause significant complications.

“We now have a plan to deliver the right stadium for Bohs, Dublin 7 and the city as a whole, at a cost that is appropriate, and that has public and political support. What we need now is the government to ensure the right funding is now forthcoming so that we can have a community stadium to be proud of at the Home of Irish Football.

“The realisation of this redevelopment will be transformative, not only for Bohemian FC, across all of our extensive activities in football and social outreach work, but also for the local Dublin 7 community who gain greatly through the provision of a community building and new, safe, cycle and pedestrian routes in an inner-city environment.

“At present, many young fans and families cannot access Dalymount with every game sold out; young fans and aspiring young footballers unable to see their heroes. As a fan-owned football club, Bohemians’ growth, across all activities, is also currently restricted with match-day revenues key to our model, one which has no capacity for private enrichment, and solely aimed to be a force for good. It is hard to overstate the benefits the redevelopment will bring to the club and community, for many generations to come.”

Lord Mayor of Dublin Daithí de Róiste also welcomed the announcement, and said: “The redevelopment of this iconic stadium will provide a modern municipal facility that will not just be of benefit to Bohemian FC but also the wider Dublin Community.

“Today marks another step towards that goal. I’d like to acknowledge all the ongoing hard work and commitment from both the City Council staff and the Design Team tasked with delivering this project and I have no doubt this will continue as we progress to the next stage of the redevelopment process.”