Denise Barrett-Baxendale gives update on new Everton stadium

Everton chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale has said the club is moving closer to starting work on their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

Having taken on board feedback from their initial planning application for the prospective 52,888-capacity arena in December 2019, an amended version was submitted to Liverpool City Council in September.

And, speaking at Everton’s annual general meeting on Thursday, Professor Barrett-Baxendale said the club are confident of their plans receiving their green light in the near future, and that more supporter consultation is continuing to take place:

“Liverpool City Council’s public consultation period [on the amended planning application] closed in October and the club is confident of securing a successful planning determination very soon, with the potential to commence construction on-site shortly thereafter.

“While the club awaits the determination of a planning application, we continue to pursue a range of funding opportunities, including senior debt, alternative sources of equity and subordinated debt.

“Phase two, due diligence, is currently being conducted to support the funding process, including direct research with supporters to help shape what matchdays will look like at the new stadium.”

At the meeting, which was held virtually due to COVID-19, Barrett-Baxendale thanked staff and stakeholders for the progress made on the stadium move in the last 12 months, which has inevitably been made harder by the coronavirus pandemic.

She also commended the work down on the Goodison Legacy project, with an outline planning application submitted to Liverpool City Council for a community-led development at Goodison Park in April.

If successful, then once Everton leave Goodison, the stadium would be redeveloped to provide community assets in the L4 region, such as housing, a health centre, retail spaces, a youth enterprise zone, office facilities and green space. She added:

“The progress is testament to the hard work, expertise and dedication shown by Club staff, our consultants and key stakeholders, despite the extremely challenging conditions over the past 12 months.

“The Club has also continued to make significant progress in our plans for a community-led legacy at Goodison Park. This will build upon an ongoing programme of investment in community facilities within L4 and will ensure the heartbeat of the Club remains in the local community it has called home for nearly 130 years.”