John Nelms hopes that Dundee can get a ‘shovel in the ground’ soon to begin work on their long-awaited new stadium, with the club's managing director optimistic that constructive talks with key stakeholders will bear fruit over the summer.
Plans for the new 12,500-seater state-of-the-art arena in the Camperdown area have long been stymied by the failure of the city council to approve planning permission for the project, with the latest setback coming as concerns were raised over a proposed junction from Kingsway into the development site.
Talks are ongoing between the club, Transport Scotland and Dundee Council to find a solution to that issue, and while Nelms has previously expressed frustration at the slow pace of progress in getting to the construction stage, he is now seeing some light at the end of what has been a very long tunnel.
“We have been working diligently with the different agencies trying to come to a positive solution,” Nelms said.
“At the end of the day, we are working together and slowly getting ourselves to a point where we're going to have a positive outcome. We want to get that shovel in the ground sooner rather than later.
“This summer we should be able to have a positive hearing in the form of the stadium. It is an important project for the city financially, culturally, and sporting-wise. It's just so important.
“Whatever frustrations there have been, we need to look forward together now. A project of this size and the tax revenue it brings in, the revenue it brings to a city the size of ours, and the amount of people that it brings to the city and the jobs it creates, it will be such a huge asset to Dundee.
“So, we are working with the council and all other stakeholders in tandem, and I am very hopeful we will be able to have something concrete on the future of the stadium soon.”
