10 Jun 2008Everton's stadium plans 'approved'

Football Technology and Stadia

Plans for a new ground in Kirkby to replace Everton's Goodison Park have been approved by Knowsley council.

However, while this constitutes a step forward for the £400 million scheme the proposal will still have to be given the green light by the government office for the north-west.

Indeed, there is a distinct possibility that a public enquiry might still need to be held to resolve the issue, which has split opinion in Liverpool.

While some local councils are adamant that the scheme should be opposed on the grounds that it will attract business away from the city centre, others believe it is crucial to Kirkby's regeneration.

The planning committee was advised to accept the scheme as the pros outweighed the cons.

"The crux of this case is whether the conflicts with policy and the dis-benefits of the scheme relating to 'town centre and retail' considerations outweigh or are outweighed by the benefits associated with 'economic and regeneration' considerations," a report into the issue said.

"Overall, it is concluded that the development will deliver a number of benefits that will help address the socio and economic disparities and improve quality of life for the people of Kirkby."

Everton's proposal, which includes plans for a Tesco store in addition to a 50,000-seat stadium, can only be approved by the council as it cannot grant permission for a something of such a large scale.

Kirkby, which lies in the borough of Knowsley, is situated around nine miles from Liverpool City centre - a fact which has not escaped many Everton fans.

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