Everton’s new stadium and legacy project proposals mark a “huge statement of intent” for its future, the Club’s Chief Executive has said.

Confirming the Club’s planning application for a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock on Liverpool’s waterfront is being submitted to Liverpool City Council today (23 December 2019), Professor Denise Barrett-Baxendale also praised Evertonians for their support and described them as the “best fans in the world.”

She said: “The People’s Project is our commitment both for a long and exciting future for the Club in North Liverpool and also for Everton in the Community to continue its life-changing work in Liverpool 4.

“It is a huge statement of intent for our future as a football club. If we’re granted planning approval this will be a world-class football stadium in a world-class location.

“Our plans are now with the city council and we need to be patient and let due process take place, but from the announcement of planning approval we would anticipate a three-year build.”

Professor Barrett-Baxendale said that the two-stage public consultation process showed that the people of Liverpool clearly recognise that The People’s Project is about more than a new home for the Club and will deliver regeneration, jobs and social value.

The plans for the stadium, which will sit within Peel L&P’s Liverpool Waters site, would have a transformational impact on North Liverpool, kick-starting the regeneration of the northern docklands, contributing a £1bn boost to the city region’s economy, creating up to 15,000 jobs and attracting 1.4m visitors to the city each year.

“We’re really proud to be known as the People’s Club and it’s a responsibility that we do not take lightly,” she said.

“We believe so strongly in the ability of these plans to have a positive impact across the whole of Liverpool, so we really felt that we had to go above and beyond in taking those plans to the public and asking them what they thought.

“Our fans are the most important stakeholders, but this is a scheme that everyone in Liverpool deserved to have a view on. We went to great lengths to reach non-football fans and people who support other clubs across the whole of the City Region and to listen to what they had to say and we have been overwhelmed by how much support they’ve shown our plans.

“More than 60,000 responses and 96 per cent support is a compelling mandate to make this a reality.

“We have always believed that this project can be a game-changer for North Liverpool, so to see that reflected in the tens of thousands of comments we received through the consultation has been absolutely amazing.”

She added: “The process also confirmed what we already know – that we have the best fans in the world - passionate, ambitious, committed people who want the best for their club and their city.”

Professor Barrett-Baxendale also pledged to continue to engage with fans throughout the next phases of the project and provided an update on the club’s approach to funding and construction.

She said: “Our stadium development team will continue to work on the process of selecting a contractor and finalising our funding solution, which won’t be publicly revealed until after we have successfully gained planning permission.”

 “We believe so strongly in the ability of these plans to have a positive impact across the whole of Liverpool, so we really felt that we had to go above and beyond in taking those plans to the public and asking them what they thought.

“Our fans are the most important stakeholders, but this is a scheme that everyone in Liverpool deserved to have a view on. We went to great lengths to reach non-football fans and people who support other clubs across the whole of the City Region and to listen to what they had to say and we have been overwhelmed by how much support they’ve shown our plans.

“More than 60,000 responses and 96 per cent support is a compelling mandate to make this a reality.

“We have always believed that this project can be a game-changer for North Liverpool, so to see that reflected in the tens of thousands of comments we received through the consultation has been absolutely amazing.”

She added: “The process also confirmed what we already know – that we have the best fans in the world - passionate, ambitious, committed people who want the best for their club and their city.”

Professor Barrett-Baxendale also pledged to continue to engage with fans throughout the next phases of the project and provided an update on the club’s approach to funding and construction.

She said: “Our stadium development team will continue to work on the process of selecting a contractor and finalising our funding solution, which won’t be publicly revealed until after we have successfully gained planning permission.”