The Dublin indoor velodrome, which has been promised by Government and the sporting authorities for well over a decade, has finally been granted full planning permission. While Fingal County Council late last year sought more information about aspects of the plan, leading to fears of a new delay, the council has now approved permission for the project in full.
While the facility on the Sport Ireland Campus in Blanchardstown, west Dublin, will be shared between Cycling Ireland and Badminton Ireland, the planning application was made by Sport Ireland, which has now been granted permission to proceed with the project.
The decision to grant permission was made by council officials on December 14th, though news of permission being granted had not emerged publicly before now.
Permission has now been granted for the 8,100sqm facility, with will comprise of a 250m cycle track with 12 badminton courts. There will also be an internal bicycle storage area, changing rooms, medical and emergency rooms, areas for offices, administration and meetings, timing, event and training control.
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The application included a request for 2,500 temporary seats – to be added to the 1,000-person permanent seating – from time to time so that a crowd of up to 3,500 spectators could gather for other sports events, that do not involve the sports of cycling or badminton. The planners had raised questions about these plans last October and this was one area where more information was sought.
However, that permission has been granted, meaning the shared cycling and badminton facility will have 1,000 permanent seats and the scope to increase seating to 3,500 when required. That is an important aspect of the project because, if the building is marketed and managed properly, revenue could be raised by holding events there.
When news emerged last October that planners found some aspects of the plan "unacceptable" and sought more information, Sport Ireland said at the time it was common for more information and revisions to be sought for large-scale projects like the proposed velodrome. Sport Ireland added at the time a delay would not arise and that it still expected a final decision very quickly, which has now come to pass.
Also last October, the Government said construction on the new velodrome could begin within a year. “Capital funding of €9.6 million is being allocated in 2023 to continue the development of the Sport Ireland Campus in Blanchardstown," then sports minister Jack Chambers TD said at the time.
"This will allow Sport Ireland to progress preparatory work on the National Velodrome and Badminton Centre project. Subject to securing planning permission and the availability of funding, it is expected that construction on the project could commence in quarter three of 2023.”
