Prime Arena Holdings has appointed former Leicester City chief executive Susan Whelan as independent chair of the consortium behind a proposed winter sports and entertainment arena in Cherrywood, Dublin. The construction industry development is significant for businesses involved in major venue projects as the scheme moves towards the planning stage.

According to the Irish Independent, Whelan's appointment comes ahead of the anticipated submission of a planning application next month for the €250m development.

Prime Arena Holdings plans to build a venue comprising two Olympic-sized ice rinks and an arena with a capacity of 8,000 spectators, which could increase to 10,500 for concerts and events. The company has already secured a site in Cherrywood and is targeting an opening date in 2030.

The project is intended to provide a permanent home for winter sports in Ireland and serve as the base for the country's first professional ice hockey franchise. It is also designed to host conferences, live entertainment and sporting events.

Whelan said: "Ireland has long needed a venue capable of hosting the scale and quality of events routinely seen in leading international cities."

She added: "What makes Prime Arena particularly compelling is the combination of a world-class sport, conference and live entertainment arena alongside a permanent home for winter sports. The project has the potential to become a transformational asset for Dublin and Ireland and I am delighted to be joining the board at such an important stage in its development."

Prime Arena Holdings founder and chief executive Dermot Rigley said the ambition is to create "Ireland's first world-class sport, conference and live entertainment arena, inspired by iconic venues such as Madison Square Garden in New York." He said Whelan's governance and international sports experience would support the project through its next phase.

For contractors, consultants and specialist suppliers active in sports and leisure developments, the Cherrywood proposal represents a significant project that will be monitored as it progresses through planning and delivery milestones.

Discover more about the proposed Cherrywood arena development.