Everton FC weigh-up options for new stadium

EVERTON FC is prioritising a move to a new 50,000 stadium, with one location, understood to be at Walton Hall Park, being seriously considered.

A plan to move to Kirkby fell down in 2009 after it was blocked by the previous government on planning grounds, and the club says it wants the new site to be inside the city boundaries.

It is working on the plan with Liverpool City Council – and would ideally like to emulate the partnership between Manchester City FC and the local authority there, which has proved so effective in transforming  the club’s fortunes and attracting investment to a run-down part of the city.

Everton FC chief executive Rob Elstone said: “The stadium remains a big priority. We’re not ruling out any of the sites that we’ve identified and that the council has presented to us, but there is one site which is getting more attention and has been getting more attention for a number of months.

“It has been worked on very carefully, diligently and in some detail by not only Everton, but by the council and by advisors, planners, architects, designers, cost consultants, regeneration experts and solicitors. So there’s a lot of work going into something that we’re very excited about.”

He stressed: “We need a council being supportive financially and supportive entrepreneurially as well. At the moment there are signs that they are being that, and that’s to be welcomed and we’re delighted with that.”

Liverpool City Council said while it is happy to work with Everton, it could not fund the costs of the new stadium, but did not rule out providing some financial support.

A statement said: “Any investment the council makes would be in a wider regeneration scheme, subject to a sound financial and economic rationale for doing so.”