Liverpool Football Club will delay its regeneration plans for Anfield due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The club began a two-stage consultation with local residents, groups and businesses, and supporters in November last year and aimed to submit its planning application in spring 2020.
However, the build must be completed between seasons, and with the football season currently in doubt, the plans have been delayed by at least 12 months.
Liverpool FC’s chief operating officer, Andy Hughes, said: ‘We have experienced a number of delays to the planned project as a direct result of the COVID-19 lockdown. Given the challenges that many sectors are facing right now, including the construction, procurement and public sectors, we are taking a responsible approach to pause the project for at least 12 months.
‘The complex build programme for Anfield Road is an 18-month process and needs two clear summer closed season windows in order for it to be successful. This is why we are pausing on the project for at least 12 months so the earliest we could complete the programme is summer 2023 rather than summer 2022 as originally planned.
‘Given the planning application is no longer time-critical, it is our intention to submit our planning application at some stage during the next 12 months.
‘We will use this period to review and consider options. When the football calendar and the wider delays to the construction and supply chain industries begin to plateau, we will provide further updates.
‘We understand this is disappointing for many, as it is for us, but would like to thank all our key stakeholders, including local neighbours in Anfield, our supporters, the City Council and others for their great cooperation in the pre-planning stages.’
Liverpool FC’s city neighbour, Everton, also has plans to build a new stadium which has been dubbed a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ for Liverpool.
The new stadium will be part of Peel L&P’s £5.5bn Liverpool Waters development and will involve plans to develop a community-led project at Goodison Park.
Earlier this year, the club said that the new stadium will deliver a £1bn boost to the city’s economy, creating up to 15,000 new jobs and delivering £237 of additional societal value.
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