Minister kills off Everton FC's £400m Kirkby stadium dream
Nov 26 2009 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post
Artist's impression of Everton's new stadium & shops in Kirkby _320
EVERTON FC’s bid to build a 50,000-seat stadium in Kirkby was last night rejected by the Government.
Communities secretary John Denham ruled the £400m scheme would suck business away from other town and city centres.
The controversial Destination Kirkby project would have seen a new stadium and a massive retail park built on the edge of the existing Kirkby town centre with partner Tesco.
Critics of the scheme, including Liverpool City Council, Sefton, West Lancs and St Helens, suggested it broke planning rules. Last night Mr Denham agreed, in a decision which will be confirmed today.
Everton have repeatedly said the stadium move would ensure top-flight status and prevent a vicious “circle of decline” at the club.
Last night, the club refused to speculate on the implications of the decision or what route the club will now take, ahead of an expected press conference this afternoon.
Among the options is to take legal action.
But a senior government source has cast doubt on the club’s chances of overturning Mr Denham’s ruling.
While Everton and Tesco have a legal right to apply for a judicial review, either separately or jointly, the Government source suggested any such action would be unlikely to succeed. He said: "Anyone can mount a legal challenge but it would have to meet certain criteria. My view is that it would fall at the first hurdle because the Secretary of State's decision is in line with the planning inspectorate's recommendation."
Planning inspector Wendy Burden, who presided over the nine- week public inquiry last year, heard five opposing councils condemn the plan claiming it failed every test that the Government had set before it.
The plans put the needs of a private football club and a multi-national supermarket above that of the people of Kirkby, opponents railed.
It would damage Kirkby’s existing town centre and neighbouring towns such as St Helens and Skelmersdale would be pulled down along with it, they claimed.
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