As you may know, Dublin City Council has planning permission (known as Part 8 planning) to redevelop Dalymount Park along with a grant of €25 million from Department of Sport. With the redevelopment now projected to cost over €60 million, Dublin City Council has been trying to reduce costs and find additional funding streams.

It’s now proposed to make some amendments to the design to reduce costs and also to borrow up to €34 million to fund the construction of the new stadium. Annual repayments will amount to €1.8 million over 30 years. This will be partly repaid through rental income and commercial opportunities.

When Dublin City Council recently agreed to end the annual 15% discount on Local Property Tax from 2026, we had also agreed to set aside €2 million of the additional revenue to fund the repayment of loans for key projects like Dalymount Park, the Fruit & Veg Market and the new City Library and Cultural Centre on Parnell Square.

It’s proposed to carry out these design changes, complete detailed design and start construction in late 2026/early 2027. The new stadium is expected to open in February 2029.

2024

• Part 8 application granted in February for a single-phase project delivery.

2025

• DCC Project Board Approval of proposed VE exercise, requiring Part 8 Amendment.
• Business Plan and Financial Appraisal updated.
• Development of Part 8 Amendment Application.
• Develop and upload documents for the Main Contractor Suitability Assessment Questionnaire process.
• Perform necessary site investigation tasks to inform the Stage 2C design.
• Develop and lodge Fire Safety Certificate & Disability Access Certificate applications for the Scheme.
• DCC apply for loan to cover funding shortfall

2026

• Notification of Part 8 Amendment to the Central Area Committee.
• Lodgement of Part 8 Amendment Application.
• Approval of Fire Safety Certificate & Disability Access Certificate.
• Tender Action for Procurement of the Main Contractor.
• Bohemian FC vacate site (end of LOI 2026 Season).

2027/2028

• Construction works proceed.
• Practical Completion towards latter half of 2028.
• Installation and growth of the pitch.

Full update from the project team:

The redevelopment of Dalymount Park is a flagship project for Dublin City Council. Since planning permission was secured in February 2024 the project has been delayed due to uncertainty around funding. The LSSIF Stream 2 grant, which was allocated to the Dalymount Park Redevelopment Project in November 2024, of €24.7m is substantial. However, it still leaves the project with a significant shortfall.

A value engineering exercise was undertaken to address the significant funding shortfall resulting in a future project cost saving of approx. €3.5 million.

The proposed design changes will require a Part 8 Amendment Application and work on this process has commenced.The Part 8 Amendment Application will allow for the following:

• The West Stand Basement Level in the approved scheme is removed. Player Changing facilities are relocated to ground floor level
• The approved Catering facilities building is repurposed as North Terrace toilets. A new catering facilities building is proposed to adjoin the western boundary
• Relocated Basement facilities ancillary to stadium use are proposed at West Stand first floor level within the approved West Stand footprint
• The stadium roof has an altered roof profile and changed roofing material
• The East Stand stadium office is relocated to the West Stand

The Part 8 process take place alongside the completion of the detailed design, and the current programme will have a contractor on site in late Q4 2026 or early 2027 and the redeveloped stadium is expected to open in February 2029.

It is proposed to borrow up to €34.03m subject to the sanction of the Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make up the shortfall. A loan of this amount with a term of 30 years, and repayment cost of €1.8m per annum, will be partly funded from the annual rental income, matchday revenue and non-matchday revenue. CCLAS are currently still working through the details around potential income streams and discussions with City Valuers around specific commercial opportunities are ongoing.

At the November Council Meeting on Monday 3rd November 2025, the sanction of the City Council will be sought for the above borrowings.