GAA officials ‘focused’ on development of Casement Park ground

GAA officials say they remain “entirely focused” on redeveloping Casement Park despite the absence of a Stormont Executive and have warned that there is no ‘Plan B’.

In an open letter to clubs and counties across Ulster, Tom Daly, chairman of the Casement Park Project Board, pledged to continue working intensively to bring the multi-million pound project to fruition.

Mr Daly said the planned 34,000-seater stadium should not be allowed to suffer further delay.

“Our members throughout Ulster and further afield should not be disadvantaged by the ongoing absence of a modern fit-for-purpose home for the GAA in the city of Belfast.

“While we are frustrated with the delays we have faced to date, we remain entirely focused on bringing the project to a successful conclusion,” he added.

The stadium in west Belfast has been closed since 2013 and plans have faced opposition from some residents.

Planning permission was granted in December 2013 but quashed a year later by the High Court in Belfast following a judicial review taken against the Planning Service.

In February 2017 revised plans were lodged, following an extensive and unprecedented 32-week public consultation process, with 95% of respondents in favour of the project.

The design approach was significantly reduced in terms of capacity, scale, height and mass. The new design set out a stadium bowl and mixed-use facilities with a range of resources that the GAA said would advance economic, cultural and heritage opportunities for the area and beyond.

Due to the collapse of the devolved institutions and the recent Court of Appeal judgment limiting what decisions can be made by civil servants while Stormont is in limbo, it is unclear what will happen when planning officials conclude their assessment.

Mr Daly added: “We now await the conclusion of the planning assessment process and look forward to a formal recommendation from the Department for Infrastructure and an ultimate decision on our application. Our expectation is that it will be in a position to conclude its assessment on the application over the next couple of months and move to prepare a recommendation report.

“We will continue to use all the resources at our disposal to make that case on behalf of the entire association. We are entirely committed to seeing this project through to completion.”