Council to accept Bellefield housing plan.

Everton to put funds towards new stadium
By Daniel Gregory 26/02/08

Liverpool City Council are expected to accept plans to build executive houses on Everton's former training ground at Bellefield, but the funds that are raised by the club must legally be used towards the building of a new stadium.

Although there were 220 oppositions to the plans, and the council feared losing a large area of open space in the area, it is expected that the council will vote in favour of the plans at next week's meeting.

Sport England had no objections to the plans, mainly due to their encouragement of clubs to move to new, improved facilities, as Everton did in moving to the Finch Farm site in Halewood last year.

A council report said: “The assistant executive director accepts the sale of the Bellefield site is essential in providing capital for the club to provide a new or improved stadium.

“He also accepts that an improved stadium or new stadium, either at Knowsley or any other location in the region, is capable of providing significant regeneration benefits.

“However, in order to ensure such funds are only used in connection with a new stadium, he considers any permission should be subject to a legal agreement, such that the capital receipt from the sale of the site is only used for such purposes.

“The applicants have confirmed this would be acceptable.”