Leaders from politics and the Premier League have welcomed the announcement that Everton will begin the first phase of construction on the Club’s new stadium this month.

The development, which will be one of the largest ongoing in the UK, will kickstart a major regeneration of North Liverpool, attracting investment and creating up to 15,000 jobs as the city region - and country - continues its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Everton confirmed that they will take legal possession of the site at Bramley-Moore Dock on Monday 26 July, with contractors Laing O’Rourke set to immediately begin enabling works for the 52,888-capacity stadium.

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters led the way in supporting the commencement of the works, saluting a landmark project that is set to deliver a £1bn boost to the city of Liverpool's economy.

"A start date for construction on Everton’s new stadium is not only welcome news for the club and their fans, but for the Premier League as whole. This new home will give Everton and visiting supporters a fantastic matchday experience and provide players with state-of-the-art playing and recovery facilities, while also positively impacting the local community.

"Stadium developments are an example of the contribution our clubs make, not only to the sport, but to both the regional and wider economy. After a season when Covid-19 posed considerable challenges for football and society as a whole, the commitment Everton has made to this development should be commended. Their plans will deliver significant economic and social benefits to the local area and beyond as the recovery from the pandemic continues.”

As well as providing Everton with one of the most iconic sporting arenas in the country, the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock will accelerate the £650m Liverpool Waters and Ten Streets developments and attract an estimated 1.4m visitors to the city once completed.

It is also predicted more than £255m will be spent through the local supply chains as a result of the stadium development, with Council Tax receipts and Business Rates income set to be boosted by £2.1m and £1.7m per year respectively.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Bramley-Moore is an area that has been crying out for investment for generations, so it’s fantastic to see that Everton are finally beginning construction on their new stadium.

“The new ground will be a transformative project for the whole area, attracting investment and creating thousands of jobs – as well as giving our region another world-class facility that will attract visitors from all over.

“Bramley-Moore has the potential to be a real catalyst for much-needed wider regeneration. Whether you’re a Red or a Blue, I think we can all get behind that!”

Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, said: “The construction start date for Everton’s new football stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock is a symbolic moment for the Club and it also marks a major milestone for Liverpool, for our north shore and the communities around them.

"The level of investment in this long, neglected dock will be truly transformational to our economy and to what is one of the poorest parts of the city, for many years to come. I’m also encouraged by the lengths Everton are going to ensure the historic fabric of the dock and its heritage assets are going to be upgraded. Their £50m heritage programme will greatly enhance people’s understanding of the dock’s history and the role our port played as a major foundation of the British Empire.”

A two-phase public consultation on Everton’s stadium plans held in 2019 attracted responses from more than 60,000 people, making it the largest consultation ever conducted in Liverpool City Region and one of the largest ever in the UK.

The results of the second phase showed that 96 per cent of more than 43,000 responses supported the Club’s proposals to build a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock and a community-led legacy project on the site of Goodison Park, with 98 per cent approving the stadium designs.

Following the consultation, planning permission was submitted to Liverpool City Council in December 2019, before being unanimously approved earlier this year.

Kim Johnson, MP for Riverside, Liverpool, said: “The start of construction at Bramley-Moore Dock marks the beginning of a new era for North Liverpool. This project comes at a very important time in the city’s recovery from the pandemic and will be regarded as one of the biggest projects on-site in the UK.

"A new Everton stadium will have a positive impact on the city’s economy and will attract visitors to the Riverside constituency. I look forward to working with Everton to ensure that this transformational project delivers inclusive growth for local people and businesses – especially those from the most underrepresented parts of our community.”

The initial enabling works will include the repair and preservation of the Grade II listed dock wall, stabilising of the hydraulic tower located on the site, the preparation of demolition of existing non-listed structures, the development of welfare facilities for Laing O’Rourke construction staff and raking of the dock floor. Pipework will also be installed in preparation for the infilling of the dock.

Paul McNerney, Director of UK Building at Laing O’Rourke, said: “We are excited to have a confirmed start date for the first phase of work on this spectacular project, which will deliver significant benefits for the city and the region.

“We will harness our digital engineering expertise, experience of delivering sports stadia and sector-leading manufacturing capabilities, using products made at our two UK factories, to create a world-class stadium for Everton and their fans.”