ULSTER GAA are ready to submit a fresh application for planning in relation to the Casement Park project.
The organisation has announced that after an “unprecedented” 31 weeks of consultation and with nearly 5,000 individuals and organisations engaged to date, the Pre-Application Community Consultation Phase 2 as part of the planning process has drawn to a close.
Ulster GAA chiefs have outlined that there has been a “hugely positive response” and that due to the large number of responses received, and the time taken to consider these, the application will be submitted in the early weeks of 2017.
The Stadium Board chairman Tom Daly thanked everyone who had contributed throughout the past year.
“I wish to thank all Ulster and Antrim GAA members, clubs, business owners, resident’s groups, elected representatives and indeed the entire community in west Belfast and beyond for their engagement with the GAA’s project team in 2016,” said Daly.
“This has been a very positive year to bring the project back to this point where we are looking forward to submitting our fresh planning application.”
Daly stressed that in bringing the project to this stage, the GAA had continued to ensure that a delicate balancing act was observed.
“There has been widespread recognition that the GAA has listened to and responded positively to the challenges for the project during this period,” he said.
“Our engagement has been genuine and earnest in striving to ensure the successful delivery of a new provincial stadium for the GAA in Ulster whilst at the same time, minimising the impacts for the immediate local area where Casement Park has called home since 1953.
“I wish to pay tribute to Ulster GAA, the Project Board and our delivery team for their absolute commitment to the project and to our partners in the Department for Communities and other statutory authorities for their support.
“I look forward to the finalisation of the planning application in the new year and the significant milestone that it represents in moving closer to the provision of a modern, fit for purpose and iconic GAA facility in Ireland’s second city, Belfast.”
