Liverpool Football Club welcomed today's decision by the Liverpool City Council Planning Committee to unanimously approve the revised design of the new stadium in Stanley Park, Anfield.
The overall approval includes full planning permission for a new 60,000-seat stadium including the Community Partnership Centre, club shop and museum, conference and banqueting facilities and a car park for 970 vehicles as well as outline planning permission for Anfield Plaza on the site of the existing stadium.
There have been no changes to the Anfield Plaza plans as they are subject to a further planning application in the future.
The key changes meet the design objectives of providing a high quality stadium, but the revisions make a more efficient use of space.
The stadium footprint is 25% smaller than the previously approved design and therefore there is an additional .36 hectare/.89 acre of open space around the stadium.
The Multi-Use Games areas and tennis courts associated with the Community Partnership Centre are now on a deck over part of the car park on the North side of the stadium with a living wall of plants facing Priory Rd. reducing the amount of excavation.
Restoration of Stanley Park and the Isla Gladstone Conservatory are now well underway and are scheduled for completion this winter.
The Club is committed to take the stadium project forward and start on site as soon as possible and aim for an opening for the 2011/2012 season.