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JULY 30
Liverpool stadium
approved
BBC Sport Online
Liverpool have been granted planning permission to build a new
60,000-seater stadium in Stanley Park to replace their current Anfield
ground.
The new £80m stadium will be built just 300 yards from the current ground.
Liverpool council announced the approval on Friday after an 0800 BST
inspection of the new site.
However, the plans will be referred to deputy prime minister John Prescott
for his approval due to the size of the plan and the opposition to it.
It is almost certain Prescott will call for a public enquiry but if he
does not and chooses to pass the decision back to Liverpool Council, the
final approval will then have to be given by planning committee boss
Councillor Lady Doreen Jones.
Liverpool have been working on the plan for five years and have
encountered strong opposition to their attempts to build on the historic
park.
There have also been calls for the stadium to be shared by Liverpool with
neighbours Everton, but the Anfield club are against such a move.
The approval will come as a great relief to Liverpool, who currently have
a 45,000 capacity at Anfield.
The club say they must expand and improve their stadium to be able to
continue to compete with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and
Arsenal, who are building a new home of their own to replace Highbury.
A number of buildings in the Anfield Road area will be demolished and the
old stadium site will be turned into a plaza, shops, restaurants, flats,
offices and a hotel.
The Hillsborough memorial will also be relocated to the new plaza.
Opposition to the plan continues to come from a variety of sources,
including the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the Anfield Regeneration
action committee and many local residents.
They are concerned that the new stadium means 15,000 extra fans will be in
the area on match days.
JULY 29
New stadium
set for green light
By Mike Hornby - Liverpool Echo
Plans for Liverpool FC's new stadium at Stanley Park will be discussed
by councillors tomorrow.
The city's planning committee is expected to give the £80m development the
green light although the final decision will be made by the government.
The 150- page planning application shows how Stanley Park will be affected
by construction of the 60,000-seat ground, and how the current stadium
site will be transformed into a public plaza surrounded by apartments,
offices, bars and restaurants, and a hotel.
The Hillsborough memorial is likely to be located somewhere in the park at
Anfield Plaza, but city plan-ners are allowing the club and families to
come to their own agreement on that.
Various items of public art will decorate the park - including a possible
"walk-way of champions" with the club's legendary figures.
Anfield councillor Jeremy Chowings supports the move, but says the club
must prove it can be a good neighbour.
He said: "This debate has split the Anfield community, but there's no
doubt we all want the same things, more jobs and a better local
environment.
"The concern is whether the new stadium is the key to that regeneration."
He added: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the regeneration
of north Liverpool."
Opponents of the move argue the councillors will be breaking their own
rules if they allow construction to take place in Stanley Park, which
opened more than 100 years ago.
Joe Kenny, chairman of Anfield Regeneration Action Committee, said: "This
is the first park of its kind in the country where the local authority is
prepared to give away a public space to a private company.
"It sets a precedent." Meanwhile the club, Anfield's biggest employer,
says the current 45,000-capacity ground has inadequate facilities and is
too small to host major games.
Councillors will visit the site of the proposed stadium at 8am tomorrow
before heading for the town hall two hours later where they will make a
decision.
JULY 23
D-Day for LFC
stadium plans
By Larry Neild - Daily Post Staff
Liverpool FC's plans for a new 60,000-seater stadium in Stanley Park
should be given the go-ahead, city planning chiefs recommended last night.
They are calling for the £80m project to be approved at a special meeting
of Liverpool council's planning committee next week.
But planning manager Nigel Lee and his team say permission should only be
given if the club complies with a string of conditions.
Because of the size of the development it will have to be referred to
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.
If Mr Prescott decides not to intervene, the final decision will rest with
the planning committee, chaired by Cllr Lady Doreen Jones.
The planning application also paves the way for the development of a plaza
which will include a hotel, offices, retail and food and drink areas, as
well as community facilities and residential developments centred on a
public open space.
A number of buildings - from 47 to 71 Anfield Road - will be demolished to
pave the way for the new Anfield stadium.
The club also wants to dismantle and rebuild the historic 'Monkey House'
bandstand in the park and re-erect it on a new site opposite Everton FC's
ground in Walton Lane.
A bowling green pavilion will also be moved to a new site.
The committee members will start their deliberations at Liverpool Football
Club at 8am next Friday, visiting the site of the proposed stadium before
heading for the town hall two hours later where they will make a decision.
Although there can be no indication in advance of how the planning
committee members will react to the application, it is unusual for
politicians to go against the recommendation of council officials. There
is a strong likelihood of the application being given the go-ahead.
The committee may face protesters on their visit to the site but a
decision has been taken not to hear any representations during the Anfield
visit.
But opponents will have the chance to air their views when the committee
convenes in the town hall for what is likely to be a lengthy session.
JULY 16
Parry rejects
ground rumour
BBC Sport Online
Liverpool's chief executive Rick Parry has denied claims by local
politicians that they may consider sharing their planned new ground with
Everton.
City council leader Mike Storey had claimed that the teams were "warming"
to the idea, but Parry insists Liverpool's position has not changed.
"We're conscious the majority of our fans are strongly opposed to ground
sharing," Parry told the club website.
"The time has come to draw a line under this whole subject and move on."
Liverpool have spent a long time working on plans for a new 60,000-seater
stadium near Anfield at Stanley Park, and did discuss the possibility of
sharing it, but they could not come to a satisfactory agreement.
They hope to have the stadium ready for the start of the 2006-07 season,
and Parry said so much time and money had already been put into the club's
plans that they were not now going to change them now.
"Several million pounds expenditure and a huge amount of hard work have
got us to the point where our planning application is about to be
considered," he said.
"That planning application is based on single club use, a point we have
consistently communicated to both the North West Development Agency and
City Council. "
JULY 12
No public money
for stadium
TEAMtalk
Liverpool and Everton will not be offered a £20m of public money to
help towards a shared stadium.
It has been reported that the North West Development Agency was to give
the clubs that sum to encourage them to share a ground.
But now the NWDA's chief executive has said that no public money will be
used in the construction of the stadium.
Liverpool's planning application for a sporting arena in Stanley Park is
up before the council later this month, but Everton's new chief executive
Trevor Birch has indicated that he intends to approach Liverpool officials
to talk about a ground share.
Steve Broomhead, NWDA chief executive, says that despite his hope that
ground sharing could go ahead, no money from his the purse he controls
would go towards easing the £80m cost of such a project.
He said: "We would not put any of our resources into the cost of
constructing a shared stadium.
"Our interest is not putting money into the stadium itself but in helping
to upgrade the community facilities, transport infrastructure and housing
around the stadium. The £20m from ourselves, Europe and elsewhere, would
be used for that."
JULY 8
Everton seek Reds
talks
BBC Sport Online
Everton chief executive Trevor Birch has indicated that he is to
formally approach Merseyside rivals Liverpool with a plan to share a new
stadium.
Liverpool are hoping to build an £84m ground at Stanley Park and Everton's
financial situation makes a groundshare their best option.
"In the next couple of weeks I will make this proposal to Liverpool,"
Birch told the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
"We need a new ground and we know it makes sense to share."
Everton's scheme to build a new stadium alongside the River Mersey at
King's Dock collapsed last year.
Birch, who took over last month, insists the club must move away from
Goodison Park in order to generate the additional revenue needed to
compete in the Premiership.
Debts of about £30m make the prospect of building a new ground unrealistic
without help from a second party.
Liverpool and Everton could also apply for a £20m grant from the North
West Development Agency if they decide to team up and build a new stadium.
JUNE 21
Reds want to change
Park
By Jenny Watson - Liverpool Echo
Liverpool FC wants to move two buildings in Stanley park to make room
for the new stadium.
The club has told the city council it wants to move the Grade II listed
Monkey House bandstand and the bowling green pavilion.
If permission is granted, both will be dismantled, restored and then put
back at the opposite end of the park, facing Goodison.
The move would pave the way for the 60,000-seat stadium and has previously
been part of the whole planning application for the stadium.
But today a city council spokesman said the proposal was being brought
before planners separately following a period of public consultation.
Chairman of the Friends of Stanley Park George Metalline criticised the
proposals. He said: "There is a cellar underneath the pavilion, which must
also be listed.
"How are they going to remove that?
"These buildings cannot just be lifted up and plonked somewhere else. The
whole reason the bandstand was built in its current position was to enjoy
a good view from every angle.
"We will be putting in an objection."
And the protesters who handed in a 10,000-strong petition against the
scheme today said they would also be forwarding their opposition to this
latest application.
Joe Kenny, chairman of the Anfield Regeneration Action Committee, said:
"Moving these structures would destroy the original Victorian design of
the park as the original architect planned it.
"It seems like the club is hoping to sneak some elements through to pave
the way for their other plans."
Council planners are due to consider the plan later this summer.
There was no-one from Liverpool FC available to comment.
A spokeswoman for English Heritage said: "We have been asked by the
planning authority to give a view on the proposal and we are now looking
at the plans."
JUNE 5
Thousands oppose
new stadium
By Al Campbell - LFC Online
A 10,000 strong petition against Liverpool's new stadium in Stanley
Park was handed in by protesters this week.
Chairman of the Anfield Regeneration Action Committee Joe Kenny handed the
protest in at Millenium house, home of the city council planning
department, last Tuesday.
Mr Kenny said: "Today the people of Anfield delivered over 10,000
individual objections as well as an official statement outlining the
reasons why the city council must not approve Liverpool Football Club's
planning application.
"The official letter carries over 100 planning objections. In the light of
this, we expect Liverpool City Council to reject LFC's plans as they are
in total contradiction with the council's own planning policy.
"If passed, Liverpool City Council would be acting illegally and the
individual councillors could well be culpable.
"We would seek to have the councillors who vote through this application
removed from office on the grounds that they would be acting ultra vires
(beyond their powers)."
Liverpool looked at 17 sites across Merseyside before deciding on Stanley
Park.
JUNE 2
Reds
advised to change stadium site
TEAMtalk
A leading economist believes Stanley Park is the wrong location for
Liverpool's new stadium and recommends a waterfront site instead.
University of Liverpool fellow Peter Stoney has now called on the club to
build their new home on the banks of the Mersey in the Central Docks
system.
And he also believes that the Reds should share their facilities with city
rivals Everton.
Stoney's comments follow an admission made by Everton's new chief
executive Trevor Birch that the Blues' priority was a new stadium and he
was open-minded about ground sharing with Liverpool.
Stoney, a member of Professor Patrick Minford's influential economic
think-tank, the Liverpool Macroeconomics Research Group, said his report
had been commissioned by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company.
But he said: "That does not make any difference because the economic case
for a ground at Central Docks is overwhelming, whereas there reamain major
issues with Stanley Park.
"There is vast interest in Central Docks and I have no doubt that there
are developers eagerly awaiting to snap up the land.
"Why have housing there when we are presented with a once-in-a lifetime
opportunity for a world-class iconic stadium?"
And he also voiced his incomprehension that the City Council had not
recognised the site's potential: "A stadium at Central Docks will have
significant economic benefits for some of the most deprived areas of the
city."
Both Liverpool FC and Liverpol City Council have declined to comment.
MAY 7
New talks on Red
stadium
By Mike Hornby - Liverpol Echo
People are being given another chance to have their say on Liverpool
Football Club's plans for a new Anfield.
The city council will reopen debate about the £80m stadium on Monday, when
updated plans will be made public for the first time.
Among the new information is a report on the alternative sites for the
stadium, a conservation plan for Stanley Park and a strategy for the
proposed Anfield Plaza, on the site of the current stadium.
It means the planning application for the stadium at Stanley Park will not
be considered by councillors until after local elections next month.
The club had hoped to get the green light some time this month so work
could begin this summer.
But it is not thought the four-week delay will cause serious disruption to
the construction timetable and club chiefs are confident the stadium will
open in time for the 2006/07 season.
A council spokesman said: "Further information has been received from the
club. This is in response to some questions we had about the stadium
design and the proposed Anfield Plaza.
"Some minor changes have been made and we are allowing the public to view
the plans for a second time until June 1."
The club submitted its original planning application last autumn but city
council planners needed clarification on several issues.
They responded with a 46-page document covering various points of concern
and the club has now sent its answers to the queries.
A spokesman for Liverpool FC said: "The planning application is with the
council, I can't say when it will be be heard.
"When they consider the application I am sure they will let us know."
Joe Kenny, chairman of Anfield Regeneration Action Committee, which is
leading the fight against the new Stadium, said: "The council is only
re-opening part of the planning application, there is still very much more
that the people of Anfield need to know.
"A lot of people are going to object because the quality of this stadium
is poor and building on Stanley Park is wrong."
A major consultation exercise two years ago found majority support for the
scheme but the method used in that consultation has been widely criticised
by opponents.
* The new plans will be made available to the public at Millennium House,
Victoria Street, from Monday morning.
APRIL 15
Delay threat to
new stadium
By Andy Kelly - Daily Post
Liverpool Football Club last night admitted for the first time that
their plans for a new 60,000-seat stadium in Stanley Park could be
delayed.
Chief executive Rick Parry was the man who dropped the biggest hint yet
that the club's hopes of starting the 2006 season in Stanley Park may now
be unrealistic.
Mr Parry's comments come at a time when the proposed new £80m stadium has
still not been scheduled to come before the city's planning committee.
It had been hoped that planning permission for the stadium would be
granted in March - with work possibly starting on site in May.
But a council spokesman last night confirmed the LFC stadium was still not
listed for the next planning meeting on May 4.
Sources confirmed to the Daily Post that it was "highly unlikely" that the
stadium plan would be considered by councillors before the "all-out"
elections on June 10.
Already then the timescale has slipped by at least three months and that
is before the possibility of a legal challenge by opponents and further
public consultation.
Mr Parry said: "There's always a host of issues which arise, as has been
the case this time. It's too early at this stage to say what it means for
the opening date but none of the delays help, let's put it that way.
"I don't think it (the stadium) will fail. I think there may be delays,
there may be areas that have to be modified but we would be very
disappointed if we ended up with a 'No' because that would essentially
mean we hadn't done our homework somewhere along the line."
The city council stuck to a well-worn party line highlighting the
possibility of the people of Anfield being asked again about the stadium -
despite a widespread public consultation in 2002.
Opponents of the LFC plans hope they will be "called in" by the Government
because it involves building on part of a Victorian public park.
After the stadium plans were originally submitted last November, council
planning officers sent the club a 46-page dossier of issues that needed to
be addressed.
It is the club's response to that which is currently being studied.
The chief executive also played down fears the club might struggle to fill
a 60,000-seat stadium, given the team's recent indifferent form.
Joe Kenny, of the Anfield Regeneration Action Committee, said: "I'm not
surprised it could be delayed.
"We are talking to lawyers and, even if this gets approved by the planning
committee, we think we will be able to mount legal action delaying it yet
further, if not indefinitely."
MARCH 26
Now club answer
critics
By Mike Hornby - Liverpool Echo
Plans for Liverpool Football Club's new stadium will be considered by
planning chiefs in May.
The council has confirmed that the club has now responded to concerns
about the £80m scheme.
If LFC gain planning approval, building work could begin later this year.
It means the stadium is still on track for opening in time for the 2006/07
season.
But if there is further delay, the proposal will not be considered until
after the local elections in June, throwing the scheme months off track.
Club spokesman Ian Cotton said: "We have responded to the council's
document and we are confident it will address all the concerns.
"The club has not been given a date when the stadium will be considered by
planners, but we are confident that everything will go smoothly, to allow
us to open on schedule."
The club submitted its original planning application last autumn but city
council planners needed clarification on several issues.
They responded with a 46-page document covering concerns and the club has
now sent its answers to them.
Campaigners opposing the club's bid to build on Stanley Park accused the
council of rushing the scheme through without proper consultation.
Joe Kenny, chairman of Anfield Regeneration Action Committee, which is
leading the fight against the new stadium, said: "The whole
situation is being fast-tracked because the club wants to get the building
work under way as quickly as possible.
"We expected that such a sensitive planning application, which will affect
the lives of thousands, would be given due consideration.
"If the club has only just responded to the council's 46-page document,
and already there is a date for the hearing, that consideration is clearly
not taking place."
A major consultation exercise was conducted two years ago into whether
people in Anfield supported the club's move to Stanley Park.
It found majority support but the consultation method has been widely
criticised by opponents of the move.
A council spokesman said: "No date has been set but we are looking at the
club's response and considering the details. We will carry out the
necessary consultation."
JANUARY 6
Reds will scrap
new stadium plan if costs soar
By Andy Hunter - Daily Post
Rick Parry last night admitted Liverpool would ditch plans for a new
stadium if building costs spiralled beyond £80m.
The Reds chief executive told the club's 111th annual general meeting the
60,000-seater arena would pay for itself over a 15-year period and not
affect transfer funds.
But he warned the Stanley Park project would be in danger if Liverpool
could not fix construction costs at £80m - their total outlay in the £120m
project.
Mr Parry said: "It would be crazy to say there is no risk. There is a
risk, but we believe it is justifiable. We feel we can afford the
construction costs of £80m. If it rises much above that we will pull the
plug."
The Anfield official insisted there was no room for delay if the stadium
were to achieve its 2006 deadline, although a legal challenge by the
Anfield Regeneration Action Committee could make that inevitable.
The Reds ruled out a private equity plan, which would allow supporters to
invest in the plan, and offers to become tenants in a stadium built by a
third party.
Liverpool are due for further talks on a shared stadium today with
Everton, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Vision and the North West
Development Agency.
But Parry added: "There has been a strong reaction from our supporters
over the shared stadium issue.
"The vast majority are against it and this is a weight of opinion that
cannot be ignored."
