ground news...

[Barry Wom]

I'm surprised nobody has picked this up earlier, from this mornings Post. We're to ask for new planning permission.....

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0...name_page.html


Regional news
In association with The Royal Bank of Scotland


LFC poised to ask for bigger stadium

Apr 30 2007

By Larry Neild, Liverpool Daily Post


New owners George Gillett (left) and Tom Hicks at Anfield

AMERICAN billionaire Tom Hicks and his Liverpool FC co-owner George Gillett are to meet for key talks with council officials this week, city leader Warren Bradley said last night.

The duo, in town for tomorrow’s crunch Champions League semi-final return leg against Chelsea, are expected to discuss plans for their new multi-million pound stadium.

One plan is to preserve the turf of the existing ground as the centrepiece for a new plaza, to ensure fans’ dreams and memories can forever be played out on the world- famous Stanley Park turf.

The council can expect to receive a new planning application for both the existing and new sites, which lie virtually side by side in Anfield, this summer. That will delay the opening of the new stadium until at least the start of the 2010 season.


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It will also send the cost rocketing from the current £180m to well over £200m.

Although work on the new stadium will still start this summer, the Americans are thought to believe that a new planning application is the best way of getting their plans sorted out from the outset.

As the area needed does not change, work can start simul- taneously with consideration of the amended plans.

By seeking a new planning approval for much enlarged stadium, Liverpool FC will have to carry out a new traffic impact study. The previous assessment was based on a crowd capacity of 61,000, but if the stadium is going to hold between 75,000 and 80,000 people the whole process will have to be redone.

There will be pressure on the club to provide a new Merseyrail train station along the Utting Avenue cutting to offer public transport links to the enlarged ground.

The owners will be meeting a city council group led by Cllr Warren Bradley, council chief executive Colin Hilton and regeneration director John Kelly.

Last night Cllr Bradley said: “My guess is that Liverpol FC will opt to go for a new planning application.

“The owners are not going to increase the footprint (the overall site size) of the new stadium, but the capacity will be significantly increased. We have to respect the fact that many people live in the area and we will make sure that the impact is properly assessed.

“I can see the sense in a fresh application because they have their own ideas of how they see the stadium being used and it is much better to get it right at the very beginning.

“It will mean the opening being put back, but we will have a world-class facility in our city. The plans they are talking about for Anfield Plaza are extraordinary.

“They want to change the original concept and leave the existing pitch as a grassed area. They want people to be able to relive the moments of glory on the existing pitch."

[philyburkhill]

Yaaaaa good.

[Dirk]

Originally Posted by philyburkhill

Yaaaaa good.

Yargh, warms me heartie.

[chrisbonnie]

i just read that on YNWA, it sounds pretty nifty alright, leaving the halo`d turf seems a clever idea

i cant wait to see the projected designs, i bet Warren Bradley is fucking seething though, bitter twat

[Barry Wom]

Originally Posted by chrisbonnie

i just read that on YNWA, it sounds pretty nifty alright, leaving the halo`d turf seems a clever idea

i cant wait to see the projected designs, i bet Warren Bradley is fucking seething though, bitter twat

he's a politician. anything that could potentially make him look good will always come before his bitterness.

[RedAdmiral]

Thats gonna cost a fair bit if the council say we have build a new railway station! I mean, that line by Utting Avenue has been disused for years so not only would the club have to build a station they would need to build a new track aswell! I cant see it happening but it will show just how much these Americans mean business if they make it happen!

[robslappa]

Originally Posted by RedAdmiral

Thats gonna cost a fair bit if the council say we have build a new railway station! I mean, that line by Utting Avenue has been disused for years so not only would the club have to build a station they would need to build a new track aswell! I cant see it happening but it will show just how much these Americans mean business if they make it happen!

The track should be fine it's used by freight trains. Building a train station there would make a lot of sense.

[RJ Fan club]

I haven't seen the Transport Assessment , but it appears such a large material change would require renumeration to the PTE (Passnger Tranport Executive) or council, but what the demands are i'm not too sure.

They may ask for additional cash in section 106 for extra transport infrastructure, which may not include a station which would be quite an onerous demand to put on a development which include public and EU grant money.

This is where the club need to be using their leverage with the council and PTE to make this happen and to seek a more viable way of servicing the ground by alternative means of mass transport. They could look at trolley buses, further park and ride, rail and bus subsidies on matchdays etc.

We'll have to see

[real red]

The little lot will expect those "past glories" to include anything they did pre-1892.

And I hope this grassed area won't be accessible to the local cider-head mini-motorbike-riding kids either. (Victor Meldrew moment).

[kopitegaz]

The track will need upgrading to make it passenger-worthy or whatever the term is. It doesnt even need to be a station as such, just a halt like at Old trafford. Perhaps it could just be open on matchdays.

As regards the current pitch being left, thats a fantastic idea as long as people dont take their dogs (and Evertonians) to shit all over it.

[Scouse Missionary]

Originally Posted by robslappa

The track should be fine it's used by freight trains. Building a train station there would make a lot of sense.

I live close by. As you say, the line is used regularly by freight and should be in reasonable condition. There are a few sites on Cherry Lane that could hold a station.

[The Acolyte]

Originally Posted by RedAdmiral

Thats gonna cost a fair bit if the council say we have build a new railway station! I mean, that line by Utting Avenue has been disused for years so not only would the club have to build a station they would need to build a new track aswell! I cant see it happening but it will show just how much these Americans mean business if they make it happen!

Hicks is running the show when it comes to the new stadium and that theres no doubt. He probably took one look at the stadium plans and compared to what he's put together in Dallas and htought to himself "How can I go from building one of the finest stadia on the planet to that monstrosity!!
Get my architect on line 2 now!"

Your right, its gonna cost an arm and a leg if a station needs building but he's Texan and they don't do things by halves. If he'd gone along with plans nearly 10 yrs old I'd have serious doubts about his true intentions.

[The Acolyte]

Originally Posted by real red

The little lot will expect those "past glories" to include anything they did pre-1892.

And I hope this grassed area won't be accessible to the local cider-head mini-motorbike-riding kids either. (Victor Meldrew moment).

If any little bastard is caught damaging that turf, plaza or not they should get a fucking kicking!

[Karl]

Excellent news.

[dark train]

I'm beginning to really like these guys.. I mean really..!

[WaltonRed]

As for the pitch I agree I hope its fenced off, maybe allow people to have there ashes spread on it when they go, or have it as part of a Hillsborough memorial garden, maybe get Titchmarsh in and put some benches and some nice decking so people can sit and remember great games and loved ones!