Plans to demolish Everton’s Goodison Park ground to be considered

Liverpool City Council planning committee will consider plans to demolish Everton’s Goodison Park stadium at its meeting next Tuesday (May 3).

The plans were passed at a planning meeting in February 2021, along with approval for the club’s new 52,888-seat stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

The £500m stadium is currently under construction, but plans for the Goodison Park legacy project have to be considered again due to the need for the inclusion of affordable housing.

Club plans for the Goodison Park site include up to 173 residential units, a care home, community uses, such as education and health and a non residential institution, as well as commercial space, including offices, retail, financial and professional services, restaurants and cafes, drinking establishments and hot food takeaways.

Everton proposes to begin playing at the new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium in time for the 2024-25 season, and demolition of Goodison Park would commence in the third quarter of 2024, with a completion date in 2028.

Eleven letters have been received regarding the demolition plans, four against and seven in support.

Objections include the detrimental economic impact demolition could have on the area, and the loss of a sporting facility.

Expressions in favour include the legacy plans for the local community, and a suggestion of a statue to former world champion boxer, and Everton fan, Tony Bellew, “to celebrate his achievements and as a reminder of the virtues of boxing and its benefits to working class communities”.

Plans for Goodison Park redevelopment

Notes to the planning committee say: “The proposal offers a positive reuse of the Goodison Park site and contribution to the economic, social and environmental regeneration for the area and aligns with national and local planning policies, which support regenerative development.

“Conditions are in place to ensure that the development would not take place until the new stadium is operational.”

Approval for the scheme is recommended by planning officers.