Artist's impression of Everton's new stadium & shops in Kirkby _320

EVERTON FC’S proposed move to Kirkby has been “called in” for an inquiry by the Government, in a move that the club has previously said could “kill off” the entire project.

The public inquiry into the scheme, which was predicted by the Daily Post in April, is likely to take up to a year to complete, and the financial ramifications of that could derail the £400m project which includes a Tesco supermarket.

The Department for Communities and Local Government, which oversaw the decision, said ministers had “thought long and hard about the case and decided the only appropriate decision was to call it in”.

A spokesman for the department said: “We recognise that there have been strong views expressed about this complex proposal.

“Ministers thought long and hard about the case and decided the only appropriate decision was to call it in.”

“There is long established process in place where less than 0.01% of all planning cases are called in.