Member Article

Liverpool FC unveil plans for revamped stadium

Liverpool Football Club has unveiled its stadium expansion plans with detailed proposals for the expansion of its Main Stand and outline proposals for expansion of its Anfield Road Stand.

Public consultation and exhibitions on the proposals are scheduled for this week and LFC is asking for residents, fans and local businesses to give their views as part of its planning application which the Club expects to submit in the summer.

The exhibition shows the detailed design proposals for the redevelopment of the Main Stand which could add an additional 8,500 seats taking the Main Stand capacity to nearly 21,000 and overall Anfield capacity to around 54,000. Incorporating the iconic Club Crest into the proposed Main Stand’s exterior elevation, the scheme will also include a two-storey podium and a carefully designed cloister which will become the new home for the Hillsborough Memorial.

The Main Stand will open onto a wide public concourse which will link the Stadium into the wider Anfield area. The outline proposals for the Anfield Road Stand provide for an increase in its capacity of around 4,800 seats.

In October 2012, Liverpool City Council announced its plans to transform the Anfield area with a comprehensive regeneration plan. LFC committed to working with the City Council and Your Housing Group in support of their delivery of the regeneration plan and also confirmed its preference was to expand Anfield Stadium.

Ian Ayre, Managing Director, Liverpool Football Club, said: “As part of our proposed Stadium redevelopment project, we have unveiled the detail of our ambitious plans for an expanded Main Stand and Anfield Road stand and are embarking on a consultation process which will shape and inform our planning application.

“In order to move forward with our expansion plans we need to have certainty that we can navigate the complex planning process and secure the support of the community, local home owners, businesses and other key stakeholders. This consultation exercise is an important part of this process.

“We started this journey just over 18 months ago and a lot of work has already been done, there is still an incredible amount to do, but good progress has been made so far and we are proud to be able to unveil our plans.”

Liverpool City Council has confirmed that negotiations with property owners are progressing well and all parties are close to agreement but there are still details to be finalised.

Following this consultation process, Liverpool FC expects to refine its plans and submit a planning application to the City Council during the summer.

If consent is granted, construction work on the proposed Main Stand could begin early next year and it could be complete in time for the 2016/17 season.

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “This is another important step in our ambitions to transform the Anfield area, bringing new jobs, investment and housing.

“The overall regeneration of Anfield will see £260m invested in the local community and will deliver hundreds of jobs - Liverpool Football Club’s proposals for the stadium are a key part of this.

“We are all committed to delivering a brighter future for Anfield and the Club’s exhibition is a clear signal that real progress is being made with all our plans.”

Brian Cronin, Chief Executive of Your Housing Group, said: “This is another significant step in the process for the Anfield Project and we welcome the headway which is being made by all parts of the partnership. Once again, the local community are being given the opportunity to see the proposals before the application is made which underlines the ‘community first’ approach we are collectively taking.

“It’s doubtless that many of our residents are very keen to see the plans and see how the new stadium might look and we are committed to making this happen.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .