Is the target of football being played in new Dundee FC stadium by summer 2025 still valid – and is there a plan B?

Dee4Life in sitdown with club owners over future

THE owners of Dundee FC expect a decision on their Camperdown Park stadium plans in August.

The hearing date for their planning permission in principle application (PPiP) is due to take place on August 12.

And the club owners anticipate a quick decision on “the most comprehensive PPiP documentation imaginable”.

In the meantime, Dark Blue Property Holdings (DBPH) – the company set up by Dundee owners Tim Keyes and John Nelms to build the new stadium – have received an early boost to their hopes of getting a green light to move on to the next phase of the project.

Sepa, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, has responded with no objections to the PPiP application.

More information on the project has also been provided to Dee4Life after the fans’ group – and the club’s second-largest shareholder – submitted a list of questions.

The group and club have clashed in recent years; however, the response suggests a willingness to interact once more and, as a result, provides the club’s fan base with more information on a range of issues.

D4L: When is the full planning application likely to be submitted?

DBPH: Full planning permission will be pending Dundee City Council’s response and feedback to PPiP. We anticipate a decision by August at the latest. We have submitted the most comprehensive PPiP documentation imaginable for two reasons. First, we wanted to ensure that such an historic proposal was given full consideration. To that end we have spent significant sums on more than 20 consultants in key areas.

We were keen to ensure that after years of discussion, which have been interrupted by

Covid and impacted by a recession, we would be “ahead of the game” when it came to seeking full permission.

For the avoidance of doubt each aspect of the

PPiP will be broken up into multiple full planning applications as each element of the plan has its own individual issues to be answered.

D4L: Is the target of football being played in the new stadium by summer 2025 still valid given the fact that planning permission in principle has still to be determined?

DBPH: The owners of DBPH holdings are optimistic but also impatient. We want to make sure we are ready to go if and when permission is granted. The priority is that we are ready to bring the vision to life when we get the green light from the council.

D4L: Will Dundee FC own the stadium? If not, will the rental terms be set at a commercial rate or on other terms, such as a set percentage of the club’s turnover?

DBPH: Bearing in mind DBPH recently purchased the stadium back from private ownership, we envisage a similar operating model that will again ensure preferential rental rates for the club.

Again, this is common practice across the world and reduces the onus on the club.

This question has been answered multiple times and if the answer were ever to change we would let your group and all Dundee supporters know of the change.

D4L: If the club is not to own the stadium, will the club pay more in rent than the current arrangements at Dens Park?

DBPH: Firstly, the escalating

costs of simply keeping the lights on at Dens, along with the maintenance and dilapidation costs, are now approaching £1m per year. This is money that is better reinvested in the team. The new model will ensure a preferential rental agreement that will absolutely be better value for money and be offset by the residual income.

D4L: The ONS notes that private commercial construction costs have risen by around 30% in the past seven years, including approximately 14% since December 2021. Interest rates have risen in this time too. How has all this impacted on the affordability of the project?

DBPH: That’s for DBPH to work through and we have a robust business plan in place. We have been struck by how proactive global brands have been to express keen interest in the wider development.

We are also seeing the financial headwinds following the pandemic easing sufficiently to give us confidence in the model.

D4L: What protections are in place should DBPH experience financial difficulties that prevent the project from being delivered?

DBPH: This is a very hypothetical question, only asked by Dee4Life. We have shown our commitment to the club throughout the 10 years since our arrival and while form has fluctuated on the field, we have remained steadfast in our longterm ambitions for the club. Staying at Dens Park is, sadly, simply not a viable long-term option.

D4L: While the planning application process and subsequent development takes place, what are the arrangements and investments planned for Dens Park?

DBPH: We are spending just over £700,000 on Dens Park and counting, in which a significant amount goes towards the pitch.

In addition, we have put in place consultants at an increased cost over the winter, due to the unprecedented storms and heavy rainfall that has hit the Dundee area in recent months. Improvements have been made and will continue to be made to the pitch while we remain at Dens Park.

D4L: Should planning permission be refused, what is the club’s Plan B?

DBPH: Based on the PPiP submitted, the input from key stakeholders and consultants and the reassuring public comments from DCC, we look forward with confidence that Camperdown Stadium can be a crown jewel in the city’s regeneration.

The full list of questions and answers can be viewed on the Dee4Life website.

STADIUM OF LIGHT: A digital image of how Dundee FC’s new home would look, and inset below, Dark Blues chief John Nelms.

The plans for the proposed football stadium development at Camperdown Park.