Casement Park: GAA set to scale redevelopment plans

The BBC understands that the GAA looks set to shelve plans to redevelop Casement Park.

It is expected that ground capacity will now be much lower than the previously planned 34,000.

As a result it will no longer be able to stage Ulster senior final matches but will instead be used for other provincial matches.

The move comes amid a long-running dispute over funding for the project.

Development was also delayed due to protracted planning disputes.

Rebuilding the west Belfast stadium was estimated to cost around £260m with £120m coming jointly from the Stormont Executive, the Irish Government and the GAA.

The British government pledged a further £50 million as part of a spending review that left a deficit of £90 million.

It is understood that there is now a question mark over the government’s financial commitment which has prompted the rethink.

While there was no official confirmation from the GAA, sources close to the association said there was no option but to back off the project.

They confirmed that a new “statement of need” would be drawn up to reflect what could be built with the available financial resources.

“It is not what the GAA had planned but it has been clear for some time that the financial resources are not going to be met,” the source said.

“It is a disappointment but the priority now will be to build the stadium as soon as possible.”