Everton FC target brownfield sites for new stadium

Everton FC have moved away from their plans to create a new stadium at Walton Hall Park and are now considering two brownfield sites closer to Liverpool city centre.

According to a joint statement from Everton and Liverpool City Council, the Blues are no longer focusing on Walton Hall Park as a potential new home because the scheme would have “relied heavily on retail investment”, but the majority of current investment into retail focuses on the city centre and larger district hubs, rather than out-of-town developments like Walton Hall Park.

Liverpool’s Mayor, Joe Anderson, said: “Most people will be aware that I did give a commitment to Everton to support a potential scheme at Walton Hall Park with the aim of regenerating the area and creating new jobs.

“However, through the work that the Club and the council have done, we have concluded that effectively building a new village in North Liverpool with lots of retail space is a step too far in this current economic climate.”

Mr Anderson added: “On the subject of the park itself, I can now say that the park will remain a park and will be designated as such in our Local Plan which will be out for consultation this summer.”

EFC chief exec Robert Elstone said the club’s work with the council has been “positive and progressive” over the last few months.

He continued: “Whilst our work evaluating the alternatives is at an early stage, we are hopeful that the new sites provide us with a much more straightforward, deliverable opportunity to build a new stadium.”

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