Everton FC will have to overcome significant hurdles if they are to realise their dream of a new stadium in Walton Hall Park, a Freedom of Information request by the ECHO revealed.
The Walton Hall Park plan has been rumoured for several years but was finally made public yesterday because of Liverpool City Council’s need to highlight what it plans to do with that land in the future.
With fans openly discussing the move away from Goodison to Walton Hall Park as long as three years ago, an FOI by the ECHO showed the council was looking at the feasibility of the move.
The document pointed out some of the potential hurdles that would have to be overcome, especially due to the need for other development around the stadium to help finance it.
WATCH: Joe Anderson on the Walton Hall Park regeneration project
The council report stated: “Significant commercial/retail would compromise other significant developments nearby, particularly those in neighbouring Knowsley.
“The frontage of the park is currently home to a number of soccer pitches and the HQ of the County FA ... there is also an issue around use of green space and a public park for the development of a football stadium (although Liverpool FC secured planning permission to build within a park).”
In pictures: Archive shots of Goodison Park
The report, produced in February 2011 once Labour had taken control of the city, also stated that at that time the County ward was controlled by the Liberal Democrats who had a policy of no reduction of green space. It is now controlled by Labour.
But it does point out regeneration benefits: “Development in this location would present business and job opportunities in one of the most deprived areas in the country, as well as improved infrastructure and public realm that would be necessary with an enhanced stadium and delivering a significant scheme on the site.”
The report of 2011 was optimistic about timescale, envisaging the new stadium being ready for this summer.
Mayor Anderson this week couldn’t give an idea of how long the stadium would take from now, but was hopeful that a planning application could be worked up within the year.
WATCH: Joe Anderson talks to Marc Waddington on Everton's plans to build a new stadium on Walton Hall Park
Around 1,000 homes around the park, within the ‘Ship streets’, the Warbreck ward and the Older People’s Village will receive a letter today inviting them to a series of consultation events over the next few weeks about the regeneration plans.
