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Everton could submit a planning application for their proposed new stadium at Bramley Moore dock as soon as September.
Tentative Details about the stadium and Everton’s legacy plans for Goodison Park have been revealed at the Mipim property convention in Cannes.
Speaking on Wednesday, Darran Lawless from land owners Peel Land and Property said the Blues could submit plans by the end of the summer.
That would certainly tally with the club’s rough timetable following an initial consultation period at the end of last year.
With the results of that consultation now analysed, architect Dan Meis will finalise his designs ahead of a second consultation this summer, where supporters should get to see the first detailed renderings of the new ground.
After that second consultation then the club will then look to submit a full planning application with the hope of starting building work in the summer of 2020.
Speaking at the convention on Tuesday Everton chief executive Prof Denise Barrett-Baxendale said that steady progress had been made on the stadium project in the past few months.
She said that the new stadium would be the “Fourth Grace” on the Liverpool waterfront (the current Three Graces being the Royal Liver Building, the Cunard Building, and the Port of Liverpool Building).
It was reiterated that the club hope the stadium will be ready by the summer of 2023 with a proposed capacity of 52,000 with the option to increase using safe standing should safety regulations change.
Prof Barrett-Baxendale also emphasised the club’s commitment to legacy projects at Goodison Park and desire to give something back to the community.
That includes, she revealed for the first time, a ‘Toffee Trail’ leading from Goodison to the new stadium.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo Prof Barrett-Baxendale said:
“It will be a fortress… an intimidating place to watch football and will have a lot of Goodison in it.
It will also reflect the maritime heritage of the city and will sit beautifully as the Fourth Grace on Liverpool’s waterfront.
“The club’s aim is not not to destroy an area but to breathe new life into it - and give it back to the people of Liverpool. This is an opportunity to do something very special.”
The next big hurdle for the club to clear is to secure funding for the project, which is estimated to cost in the region of £500m.
Prof Barrett-Baxendale said the club was “more confident than ever” about securing funding but would not reveal details of who they were talking to.
It was also confirmed that the Toffees CEO is to chair a commission which aims to deliver a new train station for Liverpool city centre, which will connect the city to the new high-speed rail project HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail.