SFA and SPFL back Dundee as club submit planning request for new stadium

Dundee FC have secured the backing of the Scottish FA and SPFL as they take steps towards a new stadium.

The Premiership club has previously shared its long-term intention to move from Dens Park to a new purpose-built complex at Camperdown Park, with the club’s hierarchy working on developing the plan over several years.

Dark Blue Property Holdings Ltd have now reached the stage of formally submitting a planning permission request to Dundee City Council, and have the support of the football authorities.

Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell said: “Dens Park has been an iconic Scottish football stadium for more than 100 years and while fans of all generations will cherish their favourite memories inside the stadium, we understand the club’s wish to future-proof their home and improve the matchday experience for supporters for the next 100 years.

“The Scottish FA is supportive of plans that will improve club infrastructure, the supporter experience and the image of the national game.”

His sentiments were shared by SPFL counterpart Neil Doncaster.

“Any club that seeks to invest in improving infrastructure to this scale deserves enormous credit,” Doncaster said. “This project is ambitious and one that has been worked on for some time by the owners.

“The SPFL supports efforts to enhance the Scottish football experience for the hundreds of thousands of fans who attend matches on a weekly basis.”

Owners Tim Keyes and John Nelms recently purchased the 124-year-old Dens Park stadium and intend to sell that ground to help finance the new development.

The new 12,500 capacity stadium is designed to be multi-purpose to allow the club to raise revenue through concerts and other major events, with the club hoping the complex can be in use seven days a week and not just when Dundee are in action.

“Today is a significant milestone in our stadium development plans,” managing director John Nelms said. “Thanks to the help of our expert planning team, architects and the wider group involved in the project, we have submitted an extensive document requesting Planning Permission in Principle.

“We look forward to sharing more details with supporters during this process and engaging with Dundee City Council to bring the vision to reality. We are grateful, too, to the Scottish FA and SPFL for their support.

“We have also been encouraged by our engagement so far with the local authority, who are on record as saying that they are supportive of developers who want to play a part in the regeneration of Dundee and that they will work to remove any barriers.”