Lansdowne Road Redevelopment Thread

[Erstwhile Bóz]

Did anybody expect An Bord Pleanála not to grant planning permission with the week that's in it, the anniversary of one of their more famous ignore-the-advice football-ground pronouncements? ;)

If history's repeating itself, though, it doesn't bode well for the other decision in Tallaght :(

[galwayhoop]

Would that be a valid reason for high court challenge? i.e. the Board overturning the inspectors report?

:(

NO.

the inspector gives a recommendation to the Board and they take it into consideration along with the submissions of both parties, i.e. the applicant (IRFU/FAI) and the appelant(s). the inspectors report is merely just another submission allbeit his recommendation.

the system would not work at all if the report were to be the over-riding factor as there would be too much incentive to interfere with the inspector and influence his decision. the boards decision is final. it is a green light. there can only be an appeal if the process was not carried out in accordance with proper procedure. in such a high profile case this is extremely unlikely.

i presume that the objectors who sold their houses signed contracts (subject to planning permission being granted) on the sale to the IRFU which are binding. i presume it wasn't only a verbal agreement and therefore the IRFU cannot now just give them the fingers as someone above suggested!!

[eirebhoy]

i presume that the objectors who sold their houses signed contracts (subject to planning permission being granted) on the sale to the IRFU which are binding. i presume it wasn't only a verbal agreement and therefore the IRFU cannot now just give them the fingers as someone above suggested!!
I'm sure they didn't spent €10m just so 2 people would drop their appeals anyway so the houses would have surely been bought anyway.

[galwayhoop]

I'm sure they didn't spent €10m just so 2 people would drop their appeals anyway so the houses would have surely been bought anyway.

possibly. it has happened before though. i know of a development in galway where 1 house was bought (privately) for approximately 4 times its market value. the person who sold it then promptly dropped their appeal and the rest of the residents followed suit without knowing of the house purchase!! development got planning and person who sold house skipped out of town promptly leaving behind some very unhappy former neighbours!

anyway the purchase of the houses would have been done subject to planning. i'm sure that the IRFU are astute enough to realise that they had little/no use for the houses without gaining planning! however if the FAI had been running the show they would probably have just bought them anyway without covering their backsides!!

[pete]

It appears the Inspector recommended to deny planning based on better options of the stadium - there was no mention of what or where these were.

Seen the old biddy on RTE news yesterday complaining about her sunlight being denied, living in the shadow of the East stand. From tv pictures she must have been 50-100m from the back of the stand so don't have any idea why she thought would be living in a shadow as theres already a stand there.

:rolleyes:

I would be surprised if there wasn't a high court challenge. It doesn't matter if valid or not as that just seems to be the way this country is.

:(

[Poor Student]

For those who think the 50k capacity is too big, currenty we're sitting on the brink of mediocrety. If we don't finish at least third in this group then Croke Park will become a very hard place to sell out even for the bigger game, sure even Landsdowne Rd. will stuggle to be sold out. Don't forget we'll be taking on home friendlies again once we get back in there. For the larger 6 nations ties it will be way too small, but frankly, I don't care about rugby.

[SUB of the day]

:eek: south terrace first to go....its actually started......its ACTUALLY happening.:)

[Jerry The Saint]

:eek: south terrace first to go....its actually started......its ACTUALLY happening.:)


It's ACTUALLY getting demolished you mean - they could have easily done that years ago. I'll save my celebrations for when they actually start buliding something. :)

[SUB of the day]

It's ACTUALLY getting demolished you mean - they could have easily done that years ago. I'll save my celebrations for when they actually start buliding something. :)
One step at a time:D

[eirebhoy]

Just got an e-mail from them.


DEMOLITION COMMENCES AT LANSDOWNE ROAD STADIUM

Demolition work has commenced on the Lansdowne Road Stadium. The work which commenced earlier this week will initially concentrate on the South Terrace. In all the demolition works will take seven months and are due for completion at the end of December this year. Construction of the new stadium will commence before the end of May.

Mr John O’Donoghue, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism visited Lansdowne Stadium earlier today (Thursday, 17 May) to view the demolition works. He was accompanied by Mr Philip Browne, chief executive, IRFU and Mr John Delaney, chief executive, FAI. Other members of the board of Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company were also present.

Demolition will go on in a number of different areas of the stadium during the rest of May. Works will include:

• Commencement demolition South Terrace
• ‘‘Soft strip’ of West Stand
• Removal of lower terrace from West Stand (this is a separate structure to the actual West Stand
• Removal of the roof of the West Stand

No demolition works on the West Stand will be undertaken that might interfere with the operation of the DART. Demolition of that part of the West Stand that overhangs the DART will only be undertaken during non-operating hours of the DART and by agreement with Iarnrod Eireann.

The ‘soft strip’ of the West Stand is mainly internal to that stand. It includes the removal of wood, partitioning, lights, etc, all of which will go for recycling.

The overall project is being managed by Project Management Group, Ireland’s largest project management firm. Initially there are two contracts involved in the demolition/construction. These are as follows:

• Demolition of existing stadium and construction of the podium over the railway
• Substructure/Foundations for the new stadium

These contracts have been awarded. The demolition/railway works contracts has been awarded to a joint venture company consisting of one of Ireland’s leading construction companies Michael McNamara & Company along with Somague one of Portugal’s leading construction companies specialising in stadia. They will be working with specialist demolition company DSM from the UK.

The foundations contract has been awarded to Ascon the largest civil engineering company in Ireland. Both companies are on site as the plan is to begin foundations construction almost simultaneously with the demolition.

The Main Contract for the construction of the new stadium is being tendered at the moment.

Overall Programme for Demolition of Existing Stadium and Construction of New Stadium

The following is the broad schedule of works involved in the demolition of the existing stadium and the construction of the new stadium. It is planned that the new stadium will be ready for matches in 2010.

Demolition and rail corridor contract: May 2007 to December 2007
Substructure contract: May 2007 to May 2008
Main stadium contract: July 2007 to October 2009
Structural steelwork contract: September 2007 to September 2009
Roofing and cladding contract: May 2008 to September 2009
Mechanical contract: February 2008 to October 2009
Electrical contract: March 2008 to October 2009
Pitch installation contract: April 2009 to October 2009
Commissioning: October 2008 to December 2009

Speaking at the stadium Minister O’Donoghue said that he was delighted that work had commenced and that the first steps had been taken on the road to a wonderful new stadium which would be a fitting home for Irish rugby and soccer.

Regards,

Claire Seale

LRSDC

[joe_barry80]

I was in Ireland last week and a friend who uses the dart line said that they have started pulling down the stadium.

[citizenerased]

yeah half the south terrace is down, i live around the corner from it.

[ollie]

Has anyone got recent pictures of LR?

[bitored]

Has anyone got recent pictures of LR?
Found these liks on another forum...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebaz/510881839/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebaz/510881837/

[SuperDave]

lrsdc are releasing weekly announcements now:
http://www.lrsdc.ie/news/default.asp?NCID=50&NID=443

asbestastic.

don't breath in on the way by in a dart so.

[Superhoops]

Latest from today's Indo:

THE developers behind the new Lansdowne Road stadium have succeeded in fasttracking a legal hearing into the future of the the €365m project, claiming any delay could cost up to €1.2m a month.

Dublin 4 residents launched two separate legal actions earlier this year calling for a judicial review of the planning permission for the stadium's development.

Yesterday, Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company (LRSDC) succeeded in having one case transferred into the big business division of the High Court, where cases take an average of just nine weeks to deal with, despite objections from the residents who took the case.

The second case could not be admitted today because the LRSDC had not given adequate notice to all the residents involved. However, Justice Peter Kelly said he would consider admitting it next Monday.

Set up in 2004, the commercial court is the fastest court in the land, but its procedures can be extremely demanding and expenses can rack up very quickly.

A number of local residents were in court yesterday to urge the judge not to admit the case to the commercial list, while representatives for the LRSDC, Dublin City Council and An Bord Pleanala said they were in favour of the transfer. "The CEO of Lansdowne tells us this project is of a scale and size that it is essential that every effort be made to complete it on time and on budget," said Justice Kelly, before agreeing to admit it.

This case was brought by locals Brian O'Keeffe and Rosemarie Loftus of Lansdowne Road, who want the decision granting permission for the demolition of the existing stadium and the construction of a multimillion-euro purpose stadium quashed.

They will also be seeking a stay on the works until the final determination of their challenge. In the proceedings against An Bord Pleanala, the couple claim that the board failed to address the impact of the development on their property rights.

The second broader case, brought by Kevin McMahon and Mariaelena Byrne of O'Connell Gardens, Sandymount, Dublin, also looks to quash the stadium's planning permission. The case is more complex because it also argues that certain sections of the Planning and Development Act 2000 are incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights in failing to provide for compensation where property is devalued by implementation of the planning permission.

Delaying the redevelopment at Lansdowne could cost '€1.2m per month'

The court heard that the total budget for the project is about €365m. In addition, the State has committed €191m. Demolition and site clearance began last month and the date set for completion is the end of 2009.

In an affidavit, the Chairman of the LRSDC and Chief Executive of the IRFU, Philip Browne, said he supported the application to have the case admitted to the commercial list.

A total of €25m has been spent on the project to date.

He said it was envisaged that the project inflation for delays was likely to be between €1.2m and €1.5m per month. He claimed any delay would have serious repercussions for rugby and soccer generally as the IRFU would have no grounds for holding international matches.

[pete]

FFS everyone is using the "denial of human rights" defence these days. :rolleyes:

[John83]

It's quite annoying, as it devalues more genuine uses of the phrase.

[pete]

It's quite annoying, as it devalues more genuine uses of the phrase.

Apparently Denis O'Brien trying in the European Court of Justice due to Tribunals hassles. I read that the European Court of Justice tend to stay away from these as they have bigger fish to fry & Irelands constitution fairly robust already.

[yablazer]

Are they going to have to close the dart line for awhile during construction? and also, whats the plan for the dart line when work is finished, will the whole stadium be moved further over, or is it goin under the stand or what?

[pete]

Are they going to have to close the dart line for awhile during construction? and also, whats the plan for the dart line when work is finished, will the whole stadium be moved further over, or is it goin under the stand or what?

I believe the Dart will be lifted up above the road. Whatever the actual way they are implementing it there will be no need for dart gates on Lansdowne Road in future which obviously will be huge benefit to everyone.

[Bald Student]

Are they going to have to close the dart line for awhile during construction? and also, whats the plan for the dart line when work is finished, will the whole stadium be moved further over, or is it goin under the stand or what?The whole stadium is being moved. I think the plan is to leave the west stand there until the end to shield the Dart from the construction.

[Peadar]

I believe the Dart will be lifted up above the road. Whatever the actual way they are implementing it there will be no need for dart gates on Lansdowne Road in future which obviously will be huge benefit to everyone.

I don't think you're correct, Pete.
My understanding is that they plan to construct an underpass, which will provide access under the existing Dart line.
They level crossing will be left intact, but during events, the gates will remain shut, as traffic restrictions will be in place.
This will greatly reduce any disruption to train services, during events at the stadium.

With regard to the cases being brought against the LRSDC, those people are obviously motivated by greed! They currently have an eyesore in their neighbourhood, which was probably there before they were, yet they claim that a state-of-the-art stadium, will impact negatively on the price of their property. Perhaps they'd prefer a couple office towers instead?

[Jerry The Saint]

With regard to the cases being brought against the LRSDC, those people are obviously motivated by greed! They currently have an eyesore in their neighbourhood, which was probably there before they were, yet they claim that a state-of-the-art stadium, will impact negatively on the price of their property. Perhaps they'd prefer a couple office towers instead?



Yesterday, Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company (LRSDC) succeeded in having one case transferred into the big business division of the High Court, where cases take an average of just nine weeks to deal with, despite objections from the residents who took the case.

The residents were unhappy because their case was being held too quickly. Says it all about their motivations. :rolleyes:

[Schumi]

I don't think you're correct, Pete.
My understanding is that they plan to construct an underpass, which will provide access under the existing Dart line.
They level crossing will be left intact, but during events, the gates will remain shut, as traffic restrictions will be in place.
This will greatly reduce any disruption to train services, during events at the stadium.Yes, I think there'll be pedestrian access without being delayed by the DART gates but road traffic will still have to use the level crossing as now.

[SUB of the day]

:Dsteps of the court job today, but all is settled, no stopping it now......go to pix in media gallery of aerial demolition shots.....WOW! www.lrsdc.com

[Buller]

:Dsteps of the court job today, but all is settled, no stopping it now......go to pix in media gallery of aerial demolition shots.....WOW! www.lrsdc.com

You mean www.lrsdc.ie... :rolleyes:

[SUB of the day]

You mean www.lrsdc.ie... :rolleyes:
I do.......:o

[OwlsFan]

http://i10.tinypic.com/5xgrr40.jpg

Not much left now.

[eirebhoy]

Iarnrod Eireann has granted a continuous possession of the rail to LRSDC over the bank holiday weekend. During this period trains will not operate. It is proposed to commence the construction activities on Friday 26th October at 18.00hrs and work continuously through the weekend until 07.00hrs on Tuesday 30th October. These works are required to erect the structure of the new covered way (podium) over the rail as well as the new underpass below the rail tracks. For the safety of the traveling public as well as the construction workers these works can only be carried out when trains are not running.

What exactly will the underpass be? Surely they can't do much in 4 days.

[CollegeTillIDie]

They have the technology they have the capability to make the world's first bionic underpass ! :D

[SuperDave]

Iarnrod Eireann has granted a continuous possession of the rail to LRSDC over the bank holiday weekend. During this period trains will not operate. It is proposed to commence the construction activities on Friday 26th October at 18.00hrs and work continuously through the weekend until 07.00hrs on Tuesday 30th October. These works are required to erect the structure of the new covered way (podium) over the rail as well as the new underpass below the rail tracks. For the safety of the traveling public as well as the construction workers these works can only be carried out when trains are not running.

What exactly will the underpass be? Surely they can't do much in 4 days.

they did the railway bridge over the M1 north of dundalk over one weekend (60hrs? or 84? might have been a bank holiday weekend?) as far as I heard. should be possible. saw some encouraging aerial photos a while back.

don't forget, the newly professionalised IRFU are 'helping' (aka driving) this.

[jbyrne]

they are installing a precast concrete system which basically means most of the work has already been done off site and just needs to be set in place on site

[onenilgameover]

I went down and took a couple of pictures yesterday. didnt get into the site mind you. There is a structure of some sort already over the rails. will post pics later...

[jmurphyc]

Trains aren't running again this weekend. Obviously haven't finished it yet.

[SUB of the day]

www.lrsdc.ie go to media gallery section and click on new ground shots.:DAfter years of false dawns and empty promises this is actually happening

[Jerry The Saint]

http://www.lrsdc.ie/_fileupload/DSCF6127_(Small)_77160567.JPG

Just like Tallaght :D

[Kingdom]

Its great to see. One thing I'd like to see would be a bit of imagination on the internal design. Its one of the drawbacks of Croker, insofar as when you're in it - it justs looks like a concrete hub, and cold.

[kingdomkerry]

Has any one been to the visitors centre near gate 7? Is it worth a look?

[geysir]

Shouldn't we have a statue right in the middle of that entrance area.
Any decent stadium should have it's statue honouring a legend.

The chiselled features of John Giles are a ready made model for a statue of Soviet proportions.
The inscription could simply read
John Giles - moral courage :)

All the great man has is a plaque outside where he was born and raised in Ormond Sq.

[Razors left peg]

Shouldn't we have a statue right in the middle of that entrance area.
Any decent stadium should have it's statue honouring a legend.

The chiselled features of John Giles are a ready made model for a statue of Soviet proportions.
The inscription could simply read
John Giles - moral courage :)

All the great man has is a plaque outside where he was born and raised in Ormond Sq.

Id prefer a statue of Eamonn:D

[John83]

I met a traveller from far away
Who said: A vast abandoned field stands
In west Dublin, beyond the concrete grey.
The ruins of an ancient lab yield to
Empty meadows where tall grasses sway.
Here in this place that time forgot,
Developers planning a shopping mall
Cleared a patch for a parking lot,
And found the remnants of a wall
On whose pedestal these words appear:
My name is Bertymandias, lord of Fianna
Fáil. Look on my works, ye suckers, and despair!
Nothing beside remains.
Round the decay of that colossal farce,
boundless and bare,
The wild and tangled weeds stretch far
away.

[backstothewall]

Id prefer a statue of Eamonn:D

Which one? Dunphy or Dev?? :D

[Razors left peg]

Which one? Dunphy or Dev?? :D

ah there are enough statues of Dev!!!!

[smellyfeet]

Just wondering if anyone has been out that way,if so how are things looking in terms of the new stadium. When is it due to open?

[jbyrne]

have a look at this. photos under the media gallery section

www.lrsdc.ie

[NeilMcD]

yeah its coming along nicely. You can see the early bits of the stands been built. I going past it a good bit at the moment.

[Hibernian]

Is it just me or is it when I look at those shots from Podium (website) it looks like one side (behind the goals) will only seat about 1500-2000 people

[jbyrne]

the north terrace end is very small due to the houses behind. i think the capacity is about 10,000 too short for both football and rugby

[Kingdom]

I think the capacity is perfect. Even if you could supplant the existing crowd at croker to a football specific stadium, the atmosphere would still be gank.
When the extra 20k are taken off, I reckon we'll be left with the right type of crowd. The masses of kids has to go for starters.