Basketball Ireland has submitted further details about its plans for a €35m redevelopment of the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght to address a number of concerns raised by South Dublin County Council.
The sport’s governing body said it was confident that its comprehensive response to issues raised by council planners presented a strong case in support of the development.
The project for which planning permission is sought envisages the demolition of the existing arena and the construction of a new multi-sports facility which would double its capacity to almost 3,300.
Almost 8,000m² of floor space in the three-storey structure will provide space for four basketball courts as well as a gym, café, shops, and roof terrace together with corporate facilities and office space for Basketball Ireland staff.
Basketball Ireland claims the existing arena, which was completed in 1993, is operating at near capacity levels with no scope for future growth.
Without having any upgrades over the past 30 years, it observed that the facility is “nearing the end of its useful life.”
Basketball Ireland claims it has fully complied with the requirements to erect planning notices about the proposed development at the site amid concern by the local authority that not all owners of properties potentially impacted by the new stadium were aware of the plans.
It claimed it went much further than its regulatory obligations by hosting a series of meetings with local residents, elected representatives and environmental groups, as well as issuing a press release about the €35m project which received widespread coverage.
South Dublin County Council has asked for the planning application to be re-advertised as well as for several more planning notices for the new stadium to be erected in the area around Tymon Park.
The council noted it had received no submissions or objections from either members of the public or public representatives about the proposed development.
Basketball Ireland said the new hall would be 75% larger than the existing arena and it is proposed it would also host other sports including volleyball, badminton, and gymnastics, while a new café is also expected to attract additional visitors.
It has also reduced the proposed number of car park spaces from 260 in its original application to 211 which Basketball Ireland said was a significant reduction from its current level of around 350 spaces.
The applicant said the car parking provision was now in accordance with the South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028 which allows for up to 220 spaces for a 3,300-seater stadium.
The number of cycle parking spaces has been almost doubled to 328, while spaces for coaches have increased from four to seven.
Basketball Ireland also submitted further information on a range of issues including more details on the design of the building and landscaping, a traffic and transport assessment, the management of water and construction waste, drainage, ecology, and the use of green infrastructure.
It claimed noise levels would remain largely unchanged and would continue to have a negligible to low impact on the surrounding area.
Basketball Ireland said it hoped the council now had sufficient detail, clarity and explanation to grant planning permission for the proposed development.
The organisation has also received support from several other sports bodies including Badminton Ireland, Irish Squash and Volleyball Ireland which have expressed an interest in using the proposed new state-of-the-art facility.
Basketball Ireland hopes construction on the new arena, which is expected to take 18 months to complete, could begin in the summer of 2025 with the facility operational in time for the start of the 2026/27 season.
It also hopes to secure funding for the stadium from the Government through the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund as well as raising money via a naming rights partner for the new arena.