Dundee FC managing director criticises council over stadium plan delays.

A planning application for the 12,500-seat stadium at Camperdown Park was submitted in February.

Dundee FC’s managing director, John Nelms, has expressed concern about the city council’s “unhelpful” and “inexplicable” procedures, which “seem to obstruct” plans for a new multi-purpose stadium.

The Dark Blues submitted a planning application for a 12,500-seat stadium at Camperdown Park in February 2024, hoping to receive approval before now, but have been left “frustrated” by what they claim are several unnecessary delays.

On Friday, Nelms issued a statement on his club’s website outlining his grievances, including some technical points about a road junction that he felt “ought not to be insurmountable”.

He claims that Transport Scotland, responding to a request from Dundee City Council officers, uploaded a consultation response based on out-of-date information.

Nelms also stated that the council had not provided up-to-date context from Dundee’s planning consultant, and that the “failure to present both sides of the correspondence in public has understandably contributed to a negative media narrative” surrounding their application.

“It is merely the latest in a series of inexplicable procedural anomalies, which are becoming increasingly commonplace,” Nelms told reporters.

“It is our sincere hope that our concerns are unfounded, that our assigned senior council officers have acted with the utmost professionalism and good faith, and that our supporters will eventually see our vision become a reality.

“Yet, we are increasingly concerned by unhelpful procedural developments that appear to obstruct rather than support – in principle, consider an ambitious multi-use stadium and event campus.

“This, despite on-the-record quotes from council spokespeople stating they exist ‘to work with developers to overcome obstacles’, when the opposite has been our experience.”

Nelms ensured that Dundee would “continue to respect the planning application process in spite of the challenges we have summarised for you illustratively but certainly not exhaustively”

. It’s certainly not exhaustive.”

Nelms stated that Dundee has already spent £3.5 million on the planning process for the proposed stadium development, which includes a hotel, restaurant, and residential amenities, as well as a crematorium.

A Dundee City Council spokesperson responded: “Senior council officers and the applicant have met on a regular basis over a long period of time to discuss application details.

“The approach is consistent with the processes used by the planning authority for all major applications received.

“The chief executive and executive director of City Development will also meet with representatives from Dundee Football Club.

“Due to the quasi-judicial nature of the planning process, the council does not comment on planning applications.” Dundee has also been frustrated with plans for a new training facility at Riverside Park.

Last month, campaigners won a legal challenge that prevented the plans from moving forward.

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