Mallon grants final planning permission for Casement Park stadium

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA has today granted final planning approval for the new stadium at Casement Park.

As a result the Ulster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) will be able to build a new 34,578 capacity stadium on their existing site on the Andersonstown Road, Belfast.

Minister Mallon said:

“This is an historic day for the GAA in Ulster and for Gaels across our island.

“Last October I announced my intention to grant planning approval and I am delighted that all the statutory processes have now been completed to make that decision official and allow the Ulster Council of the GAA to proceed with their development plans.

“This has been a long and complex process, predating my time as Minister,  however we must now move forward and see progress on the ground, progress that will bring many sporting, social and economic benefits not just to West Belfast but right across the city and beyond.

“This will be fantastic news for the GAA family across Ulster and Ireland, particularly with the Ulster Final taking place this Saturday. Here’s to an exciting Ulster final and many memorable games to come in a new state of the art stadium in Casement, now that the GAA is to finally have the home it deserves in Ulster.”

Notes to editors: 

1. Planning application LA04/2017/0474/F was submitted to Belfast City Council on 28 February 2017 by the applicant the Ulster GAA.  The application was called- in under Section 29(1) of the Planning Act (NI) 2011 on 8 March 2017.  The Department gave this direction as it considered the application to be of regional significance.
2. The applicants are the Ulster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association.
3. The application was for the re-development of Casement Park to provide a new Stadium (Capacity of 34,578). Development comprises: demolition of the existing facilities; construction of new pitch, boundary wall and stands, incorporating bar/restaurant & ancillary kitchen areas, conference, training, community and cultural heritage and education facilities, ancillary offices, player accommodation and welfare facilities, press/media & broadcast facilities, replacement floodlighting, stadium/event management suite, ground support facilities including new arrangements for vehicles and pedestrians, electronic display installations, storage, surface and undercroft car parking, hard and soft landscaping, new landscaped pedestrian access from Mooreland Park to Stockman's Lane. Use of the stadium for up to three outdoor music concerts in any calendar year.
4. The Department received approximately 1306 letters of objection and three petitions of objection along with 1721 letters in support and one petition of support in respect of this application.
5. A Notice of Opinion to approve issued to Belfast City Council and the applicant in November 2020.  Both Council and the applicant agreed with the Notice of Opinion and a Section 76 Planning Agreement with the applicant and relevant parties has now been satisfactorily concluded.
6. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office at: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk
7. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
8. Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra and on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure.

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