RUGBY/Lansdowne Road redevelopment: The Minster for Sport John O'Donoghue has confirmed planning application for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road will be submitted by December. The adherence to the original timetable coincided with yesterday's announcement of the design and project management contracts.

"I congratulate the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company (LRSDC) on passing another important milestone to having the dream of a new stadium at Lansdowne Road realised," read the Minister's statement.

"We now have a team in place that can deliver a world class facility which will be a vital support for sport at a national and international level and at the same time can also respond constructively to the concerns of the local community."

The local residents' association, which is widely expected to be the major hurdle in attaining planning permission, will soon be able to view the official blueprints for a new Lansdowne Road. O'Donoghue stated the design team meets this week and would be consulting all stakeholders, including the local community, "to develop the best possible stadium".

The LRSDC - set up by the IRFU and FAI under the chairmanship of Philip Browne - have international architects HOK Sport heading up the design team that also includes Irish company Scott Tallon Walker.

HOK Sport were involved in drawing up the masterplan for the redevelopment of Croke Park. They bring worldwide experience in designing sports stadia that includes Wembley's redevelopment, Arsenal's Emirates stadium, the Millennium stadium, Ascot and Cheltenham racecourses and the upgrading of Wimbledon.

The contract for project management services has been awarded to a consortium led by Project Management Ltd (PM). Other companies include Capita Symonds and Franklin and Andrews Ltd, who were both involved in the redevelopment of Wembley and Twickenham.

An environmental management company along with planning, traffic and fire safety consultants are already in place.

The Minister also reaffirmed that the government will provide €191 million, leaving the FAI and IRFU to cough up the additional €100 million that the project is estimated to cost.

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