Everton’s new stadium is not expected to suffer any delay despite the ongoing Coronavirus crisis, with the project still expected to receive planning permission later this year.
The Merseyside club are currently awaiting planning permission ahead of the project at Bramley-Moore Dock, with many of Liverpool’s council meetings cancelled at present with focus centred around combating the spread of the coronavirus.
However, according to The Athletic, preferred construction contractor Laing O’Rourke ‘still anticipate being ready to start in September’ subject to receiving planning approval, with both club and council still working towards a summer date.
“We don’t expect it to be delayed — we still hope to meet the target for that,” said the Everton-supporting, Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson. “We have to get on with the developments and creating growth in the city.”
“Bramley-Moore is situated in a dockland that has been almost derelict for 30 years. There has been very little activity going on there. The bottom line is that part of the city, which has been deprived of opportunities for so long, has now got a chance to develop.”
Anderson added that projects such as Everton’s new stadium are vital to regenerating the city and returning to economic normality following the current crisis, describing the building of the new ground as ‘absolutely essential for the city’.
“Already, we have been hit hard and are clearly under the cosh,” Anderson added. “Regeneration schemes like Bramley-Moore Dock are crucial to getting back on the front foot as soon as possible. Without them, the city would be up the creek without a paddle, really. We’d struggle to survive.
“All of them are game-changers in revenue terms. When the whole scheme develops out, we’re talking in the region of £20 million that we’re likely to receive (from business rates and in council tax from properties, plus other areas such as car-park income).
“This is absolutely essential for the city. It will create thousands of jobs in that locality, connect the whole waterfront and bring in substantial revenue for the city. They are prizes that are more than welcome.”
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