Stadium construction work

Tender description

The Brandywell stadium is located in Derry/ Londonderry and is situated on the Lone moor Road, to the south-west of the city centre. It is bounded to the North East and North West by public roads, to the South East by residential properties and to the South West by a training pitch (known as the Showgrounds) and car parking. The ground to the north-west of the stadium slopes steeply towards the sites north-western boundary with a fall across the site itself of approximately 7 m. An approximately level platform has been created for the pitch and track, resulting in a steep bank within the site along the North West and North East boundaries. The site is located approximately 300 m from the River Foyle. The area surrounding the site is mainly residential. The Brandywell is the home ground of Derry City FC. The stadium consists of a covered seated stand along the east side of the pitch (known as the South End Stand) and an elevated seated stand to the west side of the pitch (known as the Glentoran Stand). Open seating and a standing terrace are also provided on the west side of the pitch. Additionally there is club accommodation and parking space for cars and coaches along the north western site boundary, adjacent to the training pitch. The legal owner of the stadium is Derry City Council, which under licence, permits Derry City FC to make use of the grounds for matches and the running of its various other club affairs. Although the existing ground has seating for 3 157 and terracing for 1 528, the current total capacity is reduced to 3 502 for domestic and friendly matches due to health and safety restrictions imposed on the ground and further reduced to 2 251 for UEFA football competitions where the use of terracing is not permitted. The stadium is equipped with a floodlit, ovoid greyhound racing track encircling the football pitch which has been in existence since the 1940s and the Brandywell Greyhound Racing Company is the current tenant of this facility. The Brandywell Stadium Redevelopment Works being commissioned by Derry City Council will address the Health and Safety and capacity issues highlighted above. The replacement of the existing grass pitch to an artificial surface will ensure that the pitch can be now used for both community and DCFC use. The site restrictions imposed on the development of the football stadium by the dog track are overcome by the relocation of the track and its associated facilities to the adjacent Showgrounds site. Derry City Council aim to support the concept of sustainability in the design and operation of the development. It is also proposed that the development be fully accessible for the disabled. Applications are invited from suitably qualified and competent principal contractors who wish to be included on a select list for the Brandywell Stadium Redevelopment.