Plans for a new stadium for Everton FC that would regenerate two areas in Liverpool have been put forward for public consultation.
The club want to build a new ground at Bramley-Moore Dock, overlooking the River Mersey to the north of the city centre, while their current home of Goodison Park would be redeveloped into homes, healthcare, educational and other community-oriented facilities.
The Toffees have been based at Goodison since 1892, having previously played at Anfield, home to neighbours and fierce rivals Liverpool.
Carragher backs project
But the plans for the move have won approval from a many local figures including Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, a boyhood Everton fan who subsequently played over 500 times for the five-time European champions across Stanley Park.
“The stadium will be a huge project,” Carragher told evertontv. “But the regeneration is a massive thing for Liverpool, not just Everton Football Club. There is a massive rivalry between red and blue in this city. Long may that continue, and I probably epitomise that more than anybody, being a Blue as a kid and playing for Liverpool.
“It is massive for the city’s future. Two vibrant football clubs with huge stadiums can attract investment, [there will be] businesses popping up around there.”
‘A stadium like no other’
Exact plans for the stadium will not be revealed until a second round of consultation, slated for summer 2019. However, Everton are working with architect Dan Meis on designs for state-of-the-art stadium that he says, “…would be unlike any other on the planet.” The club has completed a lease agreement with Peel L&P to take a 200-year lease on the Bramley-Moore Dock should they be granted planning permission.
The new stadium would be built near to the Liverpool Waters development currently under construction around Princes Dock, Central Docks, Clarence Docks, Northern Docks and King Edward Triangle.
This project will see 9,000 new residential apartments plus retail and leisure facilities constructed, while a new cruise liner and Isle of Man ferry terminal will be built nearby.
