New blow for LFC stadium as NWDA witholds £9m

Jul 1 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

Last week, the club started preparatory enabling works on its 60,000-capacity stadium on Stanley Park.

The stadium will incorporate a club shop, conference and banqueting facilities, and parking for almost 1,000 vehicles.

Its design is ultimately capable of accommodating up to 73,000 spectators subject to further planning permission.

In January, the club’s owners refinanced the debt they took on when buying the club in 2007 in a £350m deal. It is understood that, included in that deal, was £60m to get work started on the stadium.

I

The Daily Post also understands that sum would be enough to cover costs of the build until around the end of the current year.

Last night, a club source said: “We are not planning on having the long term funding in place until the end of this year.

“We have sufficient funds currently to take us through the early stages of the project.”

Mr Broomhead said: “The NWDA is engaged in positive, on-going discussions with Liverpool Football Club regarding our investment in the regeneration aspects of the new Anfield development. The NWDA’s grant has always been dependent upon the club demonstrating that funding for the new stadium has been fully secured and we are currently awaiting detailed evidence that this is in place.

“Until this time, the agency will retain its £9m investment towards the project, but we remain optimistic about the outcome and are committed to working closely with Liverpool FC and other partners to bring the development and the regeneration of North Liverpool forward.”Š

davidbartlett