Sir Terry Leahy reveals his hopes for new Everton stadium

Jan 4 2008 David Bartlett

Terry Leahy

THE strength of the feeling of the two main men behind plans to build a new stadium for Everton FC and Tesco supermarket in Kirkby was revealed last night.

Letters from Bill Kenwright, chairman of Everton FC, and Sir Terry Leahy, chief executive of Tesco, in support of the application for planning permission submitted for the scheme this week have been obtained by the Daily Post.

The plans for the £400m 50,000- seat stadium and 24-hour Tesco Extra store could come before Knowsley Council’s planning committee as soon as spring.

The proposal will also include a hotel, offices, commercial and community uses, petrol filling station, more than 3,500 car parking spaces, bus and coach parks, residential development together with new accesses, infrastructure and landscaping.

There will also be an unnamed leisure scheme and a six-figure investment in the hugely popular Kirkby market.

In support of the application, Mr Kenwright wrote: “Goodison Park has been the home of Everton Football Club for more than a century – a period of sustained growth and achievement which has seen the club establish itself as one of sport’s most successful, revered and respected institutions.

“A close-knit local community actually grew up around the stadium – something which made all the more apt David Moyes’ description of us as “The People’s Club” upon his appointment as manager back in 2002.

“But, tradition is one thing, ambition another and as we seek to re-establish ourselves amongst the vanguard of English football’s elite grouping we have concluded that only by leaving our much- loved current home for a new, modern stadium boasting a larger capacity and vastly superior facilities can we achieve our long- term objectives.

“We have been in discussions with both Tesco and Knowsley Borough Council for some time now about us being an integral part of a larger, mixed-use scheme which would not only serve to provide us with a new home but also help to regenerate Kirkby, just four miles away.

“Whilst we do fully intend to continue – indeed, to expand – our current healthy relationship with the people of Walton, we now look forward to developing an equally mutually-rewarding partnership with the people of Kirkby.

“For these reasons, I, along with the other members of the Everton board of directors, fully endorse and support this planning application.” In another letter, Sir Terry Leahy wrote: “These proposals have the potential to deliver a substantial range of regeneration benefits for the town centre and wider area of Kirkby.

“The combined effects of the stadium, and the new retail developments that enable it, will result in new facilities for the local community, increase the profile of Kirkby and attract additional investment to the town.

“I am confident that our proposals and further investment in the near future will assist in bringing the speedy but lasting regeneration of Kirkby. Tesco remains firmly committed to working alongside Everton Football Club and the council to deliver this project, which will enable the club to move to a new high profile, state of the art stadium in Kirkby.

“The new stadium will do much to assist the club achieve its footballing ambitions, which, as I know you appreciate, will bring a range of benefits to the whole of the Merseyside area.”