Lansdowne Stadium contracts move forward

Development plans for the new Lansdowne Road Stadium moved to a new phase today with the awarding of the design and project management contracts for the stadium.

Minister for Sport John O'Donoghue confirmed the timetable for lodging a planning application is on course for December 2005.

The design contract has been awarded to a consortium led by HOK Sports, one of the world's largest sport architectural practices. The winning consortium includes Irish architects Scott Tallon Walker.

HOK Sport, which was also involved in creating the masterplan for the redevelopment of Croke Park is currently involved with both the new Arsenal and Wembley stadia in the UK.

The contract for project management services has been awarded to a consortium led by Project Management Ltd. Recent PM projects include work at Pfizer, UCC, Abbott in Cootehill, Co Cavan and Dublin Bus.

Minister O'Donoghue said he was confident a competent team had now been assembled by Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company.

He said the team would be consulting widely with all of the different stakeholders, including the local community to develop the best possible stadium.

The Minister reaffirmed the decision of the Government to provide an amount of €191m towards the cost of the project which is estimated to cost €292m.