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The redevelopment of Casement Park is to take a step forward with work to commence at the gaelic games stadium by the end of the month.
In a letter sent to local residents, Ulster GAA have confirmed a construction company will take possession of the site from the week beginning 26 January “to recommence enabling works for the stadium redevelopment”.
Pre-enabling work at the west Belfast venue took place in early 2024 with no movement since, but that is set to change with the next phase seeing site preparation, followed by site clearance and the demolition of existing structures including the main stand.
Currently, the social club operates as part of the main structure, but it is to move to a temporary home in the coming weeks.
“As the project progresses, we move closer to delivering our provincial stadium that will provide lasting sporting, social and economic benefits for the local area and wider region,” the letter read.
“We would like to thank you, our neighbours, the local community and GAA members for the continued support and understanding as this transformative project advances.”
Planning permission to expire in July
Initial pre-enabling work involved a site tidy including the removal of floodlights, essential site investigations and implementing security.
They preceded a visit by Uefa officials on 28 February, 2024 with Casement Park then still nominated as a host venue for football’s 2028 European Championships.
However, with the UK Government confirming in September of that year they would not make up the funding shortfall to have the stadium ready by the summer 2027 deadline, Belfast was withdrawn as a host city.
Initial plans for a 38,000 capacity stadium, expected to cost £78.5m, were passed in 2013 but quashed by judicial review the following year.
A redesign has brought the size down to 34,500 with those plans approved in 2021, but with no significant work yet begun, planning permission is due to expire in July.
Costs have risen significantly, with an estimate of £260m provided by the GAA last year, although hosting the European Championships would have seen that rise further in order to meet Uefa requirements.
Currently, £170.5m is pledged for the redevelopment between the Northern Ireland Executive (£62.5m), the GAA (£15m) the UK Government (£50m) the Irish Government (£42m approx).
In January, Northern Ireland Finance Minister John O’Dowd proposed an additional £46m in funding for the project to reflect inflation, but his draft multi-year budget has not been approved by the other executive parties.
Ulster GAA secretary Brian McAvoy confirmed in his annual report the “principle of a phased delivery of the stadium is accepted” which would help get the project moving before planning expires and allow time for any required funding to be sourced.
