Alberto Morenoread elsewhere in this issue, is on course for completion in Kirkby
by next summer with the club also handing over ownership and
operation of newly-redeveloped community pitches at the north
end of the site.
Now LFC has opened a irst-stage public consultation exercise
to share early ideas for the proposed expansion of the Anield
Road Stand and listen to views from the local community, local
businesses, supporters and key stakeholders.
The vision for the project is to create a bigger Anield stadium.
Should the expansion go ahead, it would increase the overall
capacity to over 61,000.
The club recently hosted a number of drop-in events to share
the early-stage plans, with public events beginning on Friday 29
November in the Kop Bar at Anield. The plans are in early design
development and feedback received will enable Liverpool FC to
make informed decisions in line with its commitment to inding the
best possible solution for the expansion.
The new proposals are consistent with the previously consented
scheme, but Andy Hughes, the club’s chief operating oicer,
explains: “For any expansion to the Anield Road Stand to go ahead,
we need certainty on three key areas.
“Firstly, that we are able to reach agreement with local residents,
businesses and community groups that they will allow the
expansion plan to take place, which will mean closing a short
section of Anield Road between 96 Avenue and Skerries Road.
“Secondly, that we have the right sustainable inancial and
economic model in place to deliver a long-term sustainable Anield.
And lastly, that we are able to successfully navigate the complex
planning landscape. We need to be satisied on all three points for
work to proceed.
“We are working towards creating an expanded Anield Road
Stand which will see around 7,000 additional seats. The majority of
these seats will be for general admission use and we expect some
seats will be allocated for a sports bar/lounge-type hospitality in
order to ensure the economic viability of the expansion.
“Further proiling is needed and we expect to provide more detail
at the second-stage consultation early next year.
“These irst-stage consultation sessions we are holding are
crucial as they will be used to inform the design proposals we
are developing, which in turn will help us to make a decision on
whether to proceed with the expansion as a whole.”
The plans for the proposed expansion include exploring the
opportunity for permanent permission to hold concerts and other
major events at Anield, including other sporting events such as
Gaelic games and American football outside of the matchday
calendar.
The irst-stage public consultation has invited feedback until
Friday 13 December, with a project information pod in place on
Anield Road car-park before the home Premier League ixtures
Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton. A second stage will follow in
early 2020 when the detailed plans will be available.Anfield Road as it is now