BBC SPORT | Football | Irish (original) (raw)

Derry City's home venue could be set for a major revamp

A �15 million plan has been unveiled for a new stadium and community complex at the Brandywell in Derry.

The scheme - yet to secure funding - would replace the existing ground and would take around five years to finish.

The plan would see the redeveloped Brandywell being built in partnership with the University of Ulster.

The group behind the project, Brandywell Properties Ltd, want to build a 7,000 seater stadium and a sports hall on the existing site.

The company - Derry City Council's preferred bidder - hope to secure the site for a nominal sum.

Its five shareholders say they will be taking no monies from the project.

All profits would be invested in Derry City Football Club and if the ground has to be sold for any reason in the future, they have promised that it would be returned to the community.

The developers say there could be a couple of hundred construction jobs in the project and that work could begin as early as spring or summer of next year.

As well as the football stadium, the complex would include retail units, a medical centre and other business and community facilities.

Brandywell Properties say the University of Ulster would be a partner in the scheme, although it wouldn't contribute towards the capital cost of the project.

Instead, the university would become a major user of the complex.

More details are expected to be made public next week.

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