Liverpool Football Club has unveiled its stadium expansion plans with detailed proposals for the expansion of its Main Stand and outline proposals for expansion of the Anfield Road Stand.
Scroll down for more images and details of the Anfield expansion plans
Public consultation and exhibitions on the proposals are scheduled for this week and LFC is asking for residents, fans and local businesses to give their views as part of its planning application which the Club expects to submit in the summer.
The exhibition shows the detailed design proposals for the redevelopment of the Main Stand which could add an additional 8,500 seats taking the Main Stand capacity to nearly 21,000 and overall Anfield capacity to around 54,000.
Incorporating the iconic Club Crest into the proposed Main Stand’s exterior elevation, the scheme will also include a two-storey podium and a carefully designed cloister which will become the new home for the Hillsborough Memorial.
The Main Stand will open onto a wide public concourse which will link the Stadium into the wider Anfield area.
The outline proposals for the Anfield Road Stand provide for an increase in its capacity of around 4,800 seats.
In October 2012, Liverpool City Council announced its plans to transform the Anfield area with a comprehensive regeneration plan. LFC committed to working with the City Council and Your Housing Group in support of their delivery of the regeneration plan and also confirmed its preference was to expand Anfield Stadium.
Ian Ayre, Managing Director, Liverpool Football Club, said: “As part of our proposed Stadium redevelopment project, we have unveiled the detail of our ambitious plans for an expanded Main Stand and Anfield Road stand and are embarking on a consultation process which will shape and inform our planning application.
“In order to move forward with our expansion plans we need to have certainty that we can navigate the complex planning process and secure the support of the community, local home owners, businesses and other key stakeholders. This consultation exercise is an important part of this process.
“We started this journey just over 18 months ago and a lot of work has already been done, there is still an incredible amount to do, but good progress has been made so far and we are proud to be able to unveil our plans.”
Liverpool City Council has confirmed that negotiations with property owners are progressing well and all parties are close to agreement but there are still details to be finalised.
Following this consultation process, Liverpool FC expects to refine its plans and submit a planning application to the City Council during the summer.
If consent is granted, construction work on the proposed Main Stand could begin early next year and it could be complete in time for the 2016/17 season.
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “This is another important step in our ambitions to transform the Anfield area, bringing new jobs, investment and housing.
“The overall regeneration of Anfield will see £260m invested in the local community and will deliver hundreds of jobs – Liverpool Football Club’s proposals for the stadium are a key part of this.
“We are all committed to delivering a brighter future for Anfield and the Club’s exhibition is a clear signal that real progress is being made with all our plans.”
Brian Cronin, Chief Executive of Your Housing Group, said: “This is another significant step in the process for the Anfield Project and we welcome the headway which is being made by all parts of the partnership. Once again, the local community are being given the opportunity to see the proposals before the application is made which underlines the ‘community first’ approach we are collectively taking.
“It’s doubtless that many of our residents are very keen to see the plans and see how the new stadium might look and we are committed to making this happen.”
In the design of the scheme LFC’s primary objectives are:
- To increase capacity. The current capacity of Anfield is around 45,500. The design for the expansion of the Main Stand would increase capacity to circa 54,000; and design for the Anfield Road stand would further increase total capacity to circa 58,800.
- Improve fan experience. As well as providing access to more tickets, fans will benefit from improved concourse areas in the Main Stand. Those attending the match as hospitality guests will enjoy a wider range of offerings. All fans will be able to maximise their trip to Anfield by using the extensive public space around the Stadium that has been designed for use as a Fan Zone.
- Operational efficiency. New back of house facilities for players and staff will replace current facilities which are outdated. The redevelopment will make much needed improvements to the operational efficiency of the stadium that should benefit all visitors to Anfield.
- Space outside the stadium. There will be significant areas of open public space created around the stadium. These areas have been designed to accommodate a Fan Zone and to regenerate the area immediately surrounding the stadium as well as housing the Hillsborough Memorial. In addition there will be a podium that will improve access into the stadium and create further benefits for fans, such as an additional club retail store.
- Non match day activity. New open public space provides opportunities for community use including an area laid out as a pitch for informal use adjacent to Stanley Park. The space around the stadium will be available and open for the benefit of both local users and visitors.
Public consultation details:
- A drop-in public exhibition for local residents and businesses is taking place on Thursday 24th April 2014 (12noon – 8pm)
- A public exhibition for fans is taking place at Anfield Family Park around the Chelsea match on Sunday 27th April 2014 (10am – 2.30pm)
- Comments can be submitted at the public exhibition or alternatively the Club has set up a number of ways to submit comments via the LFC website at: http://ift.tt/1iNbRvi
- Comments are invited until the close of the consultation period at 5pm on Friday 2nd May, 2014
- Any views that are submitted will be considered and where possible used to inform the planning application submission to Liverpool City Council
- There will be a further opportunity to submit feedback through the formal consultation period once the application has been submitted to Liverpool City Council
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