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Everything you need to know as work to commence next week on Casement Park redevelopment
Need to know
West Belfast MP Paul Maskey described the development as a “positive milestone”
An artist impression of the Casement Park redevelopment Proposal(Image: )
Everything you need to know:
- Initial remedial works are officially scheduled to begin at the Casement Park site next week. These preliminary steps are a vital move toward preparing the grounds for full-scale regeneration and future construction.
- The project is moving forward just ahead of a crucial planning deadline scheduled for this July. By adopting a phased redevelopment strategy, the Planning Service has allowed work to start now to ensure the current permissions do not expire.
- An interim management agreement has been finalised to allow the Casement Social Club to relocate temporarily. The club will move its operations to the nearby St Agnes’ Parish Hall to ensure it can continue serving the community while construction is ongoing.
- Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey has welcomed the news, describing the start of work as a positive milestone. He emphasised that rebuilding the stadium remains a key priority and will provide long-term benefits for local clubs and businesses.
- First Minister Michelle O’Neill also voiced her support, highlighting the project as a “transformative vision” for sport. She reiterated that the stadium is a flagship Executive priority that will deliver a lasting impact on the community and the local economy.
- The stadium’s capacity was redesigned to 34,500 seats following planning approval in 2021. Despite this progress, the project has faced challenges, including the loss of its status as a Euro 2028 host venue due to strict UEFA deadlines.
- Construction costs have escalated significantly, rising from an original £78.5 million to an estimated £260 million. This spike is largely due to global inflation and the increased technical requirements for a modern, multi-purpose stadium.
- A substantial funding package has been assembled through contributions from several major stakeholders. Currently, the NI Executive, the Irish Government, the UK Government, and the GAA have collectively pledged over £170 million.
- Ulster GAA is now working to secure additional inflationary funding to bring the total budget to £220 million. They remain optimistic that this final financial push will allow the project to reach completion and serve a new generation of athletes.
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