Green light for Toffees stadium

Everton move a step closer to new home

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 9th June 2008

Green light for Toffees stadium

Goodison Park: Too small

Related links

Teams

Also see

Everton's plans for a new 50,000-seater stadium have received the backing of the local council.

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council's planning committee have recommended that the £400million development be passed by Communities and Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears and the Government Office North West.

The proposal has been made in association with supermarket giants Tesco, who are also looking to build on the site.

The plans could yet be scuppered by a revolt by local residents, which could lead to a public enquiry, but the Toffees appear to have a strong case for redeveloping the identified location.

The club are keen to move out of their old home in order to meet the demand of a supporter base which continues to grow with every passing season.

Regeneration

David Moyes has established Everton as a Premier League force, and with European football now a regular occurrence on Merseyside it comes as no surprise that the club now require a larger ground to cater for the increasing search for tickets.

"We are absolutely delighted with the outcome, and I think the fact the vote was in no way close - 20 to 1 - shows that the Knowsley Borough councillors are ready to embrace the regeneration of the Kirkby area," Everton chief executive Keith Wyness told the club's official website.

"This is another major step forward for us as a football club as we seek to find a new home."

The club are also confident of avoiding a government investigation into the suitability of the proposed site.

Hurdle

Ian Ross, spokesman for Everton, said: "Obviously we are very pleased. That is another hurdle clear. That leaves us with one. We want to avoid a call-in by the Government.

"It was particularly rewarding that planning committee members voted 20 to one in favour. There were 21 members of the committee and 20 voted for the plans and the recommendation and one against.

"Every conceivable aspect affecting match days has been looked at from the environment, parking and the transportation of fans from Merseyside.

"We spent two years looking into this. Quite clearly the vast majority of the planning committee were quite happy with the reports sent to them."

Should planning permission be granted then work could begin as early as July this year, with the stadium set for completion in the summer of 2010.