Images | Everton reveals final designs for 52,000-seater stadium

Everton Football Club has unveiled final designs for its 52,000-seater stadium as it prepares to submit a detailed planning application to Liverpool City Council.

Designed by MEIS architects, the new designs take into account consultation feedback and concerns from heritage bodies.

Several organisations, including Historic England and Unesco have raised objections to the proposed scheme, which would be built on Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool and form part of the wider Liverpool Waters development, a £5.5bn scheme to develop several derelict dock areas in the city.

Everton has now introduced a river-facing stepped plaza outside the stadium’s west stand and slightly reduced the overall height of the stadium in line with the council’s world heritage site guidance.

Everton said that its planned multi-storey car park is to be relocated away from the waterfront and integrated within the main structure, and solar panels have been relocated to the stadium roof, away from the West Quay.

Historic England, along with the Victorian Society and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), has called for the government to review proposals, predominantly following concerns over plans to infill the dock. 

But Everton’s stadium development director Colin Chong said that the club has public support, following its consultation in which more than 60,000 people participated.

He said: “While we understand the position of these organisations, we also know that local politicians, the more than 60,000 people who took part in our public consultations, our business community and third sector stakeholders all have a different view and fully support our proposals. 

“The local public has told us – in huge numbers – that they believe the public benefits of our plans far outweigh the suggested level of harm to the heritage assets.”

The updated designs will not require a new planning application, but the revised elements will need a formal public consultation.

Chong said that given the consultation process and ongoing coronavirus concerns, work could commence on site in early 2021.

Laing O’Rourke was named as preferred bidder on the project in February this year, with Pattern appointed as the project technical architect and Buro Happold as engineering consultant.