Government dash Toffees plans

Sky Sports News understands Everton's plans to build a new stadium in Kirkby have been knocked back.

Proposed new stadium turned down

Sky Sports News understands Everton's plans to build a new stadium in Kirkby have been knocked back by the government. The Toffees had hoped to relocate from their current home at Goodison Park to a new ground outside of Liverpool city centre. Everton were planning to construct an arena which would hold over 50,000 people and would be ready for use by 2012. The stadium was supposed to form part of a wider 'Kirkby Project', which would include other retail outlets. Initial plans were submitted back in February 2007, with stadium proposals put forward in June of the same year. Knowsley Council approved the plans in June 2008, but two months later the project was called in by the government. It is now understood that the secretary of state has vetoed the plans, bringing proceedings to a halt.