Everton ‘face inquiry into Kirkby stadium’

Apr 22 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

EVERTON FC’s plans to relocate to Kirkby alongside a new Tesco superstore will almost certainly face a Government inquiry.

A senior government source last night told the Daily Post that, if the £400m scheme receives planning permission from Knows-ley later this year, it is likely to be “called in” by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears.

This could delay the scheme by a year, or even stop it being built.

The source said: “This is a large and complex project that has a lot of retail in it. The development would reposition Knowsley in the Merseyside retail hierarchy.

“So, yes, it is likely to be called in; I would be very surprised if it were not. But it would not be the end of the road for the scheme.” Everton FC and Tesco declined to comment, but a source close to the consortium said they were proceeding on the basis it would escape call-in and a delay would mean additional costs.

The source said: “Those com-ments are surprising, given how quickly the scheme is moving in a positive way. Clearly it would have an impact on the costs.”

Kirkby residents action group (Krag) said it had long campaign-ed for the plans to be called in.

Last night, Knowsley Council said it was in the process of carry-ing out a three-week consultation on changes to the application.

A council spokesman said: “We have only recently received the amended planning application, and are still getting feedback from the local community.

“On that basis, it would be inappropriate for anybody to have decided when and where any deci-sions on the application should be taken. It is simply too early to say whether the application should be approved and, if so, called in.”

Rosie Cooper, Labour MP for the neighbouring area of West Lanca-shire, supported an inquiry.

She said: “I would be delighted if the plans were called in because such a scheme would have a detri-mental affect on Skelmersdale.”

West Lancashire Council has £350m plans to transform Skelmersdale town centre.

Knowsley MP George Howarth, whose opinion on the develop-ment could be crucial, has been carrying out his own consultation on the scheme. Last night, he said he would make his findings public later this week.

Earlier this year, he told the Daily Post he might lobby to have the plans called in.

At that time he said: “Because it’s a major departure from the Unitary Development Plan, then the option I have is of asking the Secretary of State, Hazel Blears, to ‘call it in’. I am carrying out my own consultation on whether I should do that or not.

“There are advantages to calling it in as there would be a locally held planning inquiry and Kirkby people would have the opportun-ity to ask their own questions. But there’s no guarantee what the outcome would be, so I don’t want to make out it would solve all issues.”

Ian Morris, spokesman of Krag, said: “We have said from the start with the way Knowsley Council have conducted themselves, that this decision should be put in the hands of a planning inspector.”

The revelation comes a day after Tesco revealed that it had bought a tranche of Kirkby town centre owned by Development Securities which had rival plans for the town.

It is understood that Dev Sec sold their holding because the company felt Knowsley Council would support Everton and Tesco’s scheme ahead of its own, which did not include a stadium.

Dev Sec said it had been paid the original sum it paid out for the land, which included around 100 leases for traders, which, according to its 2007 interim report, was between £60m and £65m.

Chief executive Michael Marx said: “We regret our departure from Kirkby, but this is the right decision for our business.”

Michael Kissman, Tesco corp-orate affairs manager, said: “This deal ensures that the whole of Kirkby town centre can be included in the exciting regeneration plans of the ‘Destination Kirkby’ project.

“Our plans have always been about adding to the town centre, rather than replacing it, and this deal proves that point.

“A key priority will now be to meet the range of tenants on this site.

“We want to work with local traders to ensure this site benefits from the wider investment for new shops and an Everton stadium currently being considered by Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council.”

On top of a huge supermarket and a 50,000-seater stadium, Destination Kirkby also includes plans for around 50 shops and other developments.

It is estimated that the project would create around 2,000 jobs.

It is now expected Knowsley Council will consider giving the project planning permission in the summer.

OPINION: PAGE 10

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