Tough battle ahead for €365m Lansdowne stadium

Two of the country's leading sports bodies face a tough battle to secure planning permission for all aspects of the redevelopment of the Lansdowne Road stadium.

A planning application for a 50,000-seater stadium has been lodged with Dublin City Council, but some of the joint Football Association of Ireland and the Irish Rugby and Football Union proposals could be facing local opposition.

The €365m venture will see the creation of an eight-storey building, including warm-up rooms and medical facilities for players, together with a number of bars and restaurants.

The construction incorporates the current stadium and land that is currently zoned as residential and part of the Dodder Walk which is owned by Dublin City Council.

It is anticipated that there will be a number of objections and a full year has been set aside to deal with these, and any other issues that arise, before construction begins.