Everton's Kirkby stadium inquiry hears tale of two developers

Jan 20 2009 by Ben Schofield, Liverpool Daily Post

EFC Stadium, design, Kirkby 11 _200

POOR research by Knowsley Council led to the failure of a Kirkby regeneration scheme months before Everton and Tesco’s scheme was conceived, a planning inquiry heard yesterday.

The council chose an untested partner who eventually reneged on his promises, instead of an established regeneration specialist, it was claimed.

The inquiry into whether Tesco and Everton will be allowed to build a £400m complex, including a new 50,000-seater stadium, also heard if the scheme went ahead, a project in Skelmersdale would fold.

Yesterday Roger Lancaster, representing a consortium of Merseyside and Lancashire councils against Destination Kirkby, called Michelle Taylor, regional director of developer St Modwen.

Mrs Taylor described a plan put forward by St Modwen to overhaul Kirkby between 2000 and 2003, which involved buying large amounts of the town centre owned by Aubrey Weiss.

But Knowsley dropped St Modwen in favour of Mr Weiss. The scheme ultimately failed as Mr Weiss apparently had no motive to redevelop.

Mrs Taylor said: “I think they probably should have researched Mr Weiss’s position both in terms of his developer track record and in terms of his legal position.”