An Bord Pleanála will rule today whether the €350million Lansdowne Road redevelopment project for a 50,000 capacity all-seater stadium at the same site will be granted permission.

The ambitious plan, which was jointly submitted by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), was granted planning permission by Dublin City Council last August but was appealed by more than 30 local residents near the Dublin 4 location.

It is no secret the current Lansdowne Road is a dilapitated stadium in much need of redevelopment. However, local residents told An Bord Pleanála at a hearing in December that the structure was too high and also expressed fears of countless events being held there.

Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company wants a strip of land along the side of the river Dodder for the new stadium. The section of the Dodder walkway, comprising approximately half an acre, is public land and can only be sold with the agreement of the city councillors.

Dublin city councillors have opened discussions with the developers over the sale of the land.

The council would not disclose the figure it has put on the value of the land, which is zoned for amenity use. However, a half-acre site in the area would be worth several million euros if zoned for development.

In addition to the purchase price, it is likely that the council will lay down a number of conditions in relation to community gain and compensation before it agrees to a sale.

Landowne Road has been out of use since the end of last year which meant the IRFU used Croke Park for their two home fixtures against France and England in the Six Nations. The Republic of Ireland squad are set to get their first experience of GAA headquarters when they take on Wales in their European 2008 qualifier this Saturday.