[article]
Liverpool to submit application for £60m expansion of Anfield to 61,000 capacity
30 November 2020
Updated 15:00 GMT
Liverpool FC will submit a planning application for the proposed expansion of the Anfield Road Stand this week, reports James Pearce. The £60 million redevelopment of Anfield was placed on hold in April as a result of the pandemic. However, Liverpool have now decided to make their full submission to Liverpool City Council with a decision expected in the spring of 2021.
What does this mean for Anfield's capacity?
The ambitious project will add around 7,000 extra seats to increase the stadium’s capacity to around 61,000.
Out of that 7,000, 5,200 will be general admission with the other 1,800 offering lounge and sports bar hospitality.
Demand has long since exceeded supply at Anfield with some 23,000 Liverpool fans on a season ticket waiting list.
As part of the application, the club is also seeking permanent permission to hold concerts and major events at Anfield.
Why have they decided to redevelop that end?
When owners Fenway Sports Group made the decision to redevelop Anfield rather than build a new stadium nearby, feasibility studies led to the Main Stand being regarded as phase one and the Anfield Road Stand as phase two. Both were dated and could be expanded and modernised.
The £110 million new Main Stand opened its doors in 2016 and had helped to generate more than £15 million extra per season prior to the pandemic.
Plans for the new Anfield Road Stand have already been the subject of two stages of public consultation with local residents, business, fans and stakeholders.
How has COVID-19 impacted the redevelopment?
The initial plan was to submit a planning application in April with the building work getting underway in December. It would have been finished in time for the start of the 2022-23 season.
However, the impact of the pandemic on the construction industry and the uncertainty over revenues led to Liverpool announcing that the opening would be delayed by at least 12 months.
When do they expect the redevelopment to be completed?
Liverpool insist they can’t commit to a start date for what is an 18-month construction programme until the planning process is complete and there’s more certainty around the end of the pandemic.
However, building work needs to start late in a calendar year so it can be completed between seasons in order to minimise the impact on Anfield’s capacity.
The plan is that building work will initially start behind and above the current Anfield Road Stand. Then in the off-season the current upper tier would be dismantled and the new structure connected to the existing lower tier.
(Photo: Liverpool FC)
[/article]
Liverpool to submit £60m Anfield Road Stand planning application - The Athletic
We all knew this was coming, but good news none the less, 60,000 seems like a good number.
Liverpool to submit application for £60m expansion of Anfield to 61,000 capacity
30 November 2020
Updated 15:00 GMT
Liverpool FC will submit a planning application for the proposed expansion of the Anfield Road Stand this week, reports James Pearce. The £60 million redevelopment of Anfield was placed on hold in April as a result of the pandemic. However, Liverpool have now decided to make their full submission to Liverpool City Council with a decision expected in the spring of 2021.
What does this mean for Anfield's capacity?
The ambitious project will add around 7,000 extra seats to increase the stadium’s capacity to around 61,000.
Out of that 7,000, 5,200 will be general admission with the other 1,800 offering lounge and sports bar hospitality.
Demand has long since exceeded supply at Anfield with some 23,000 Liverpool fans on a season ticket waiting list.
As part of the application, the club is also seeking permanent permission to hold concerts and major events at Anfield.
Why have they decided to redevelop that end?
When owners Fenway Sports Group made the decision to redevelop Anfield rather than build a new stadium nearby, feasibility studies led to the Main Stand being regarded as phase one and the Anfield Road Stand as phase two. Both were dated and could be expanded and modernised.
The £110 million new Main Stand opened its doors in 2016 and had helped to generate more than £15 million extra per season prior to the pandemic.
Plans for the new Anfield Road Stand have already been the subject of two stages of public consultation with local residents, business, fans and stakeholders.
How has COVID-19 impacted the redevelopment?
The initial plan was to submit a planning application in April with the building work getting underway in December. It would have been finished in time for the start of the 2022-23 season.
However, the impact of the pandemic on the construction industry and the uncertainty over revenues led to Liverpool announcing that the opening would be delayed by at least 12 months.
When do they expect the redevelopment to be completed?
Liverpool insist they can’t commit to a start date for what is an 18-month construction programme until the planning process is complete and there’s more certainty around the end of the pandemic.
However, building work needs to start late in a calendar year so it can be completed between seasons in order to minimise the impact on Anfield’s capacity.
The plan is that building work will initially start behind and above the current Anfield Road Stand. Then in the off-season the current upper tier would be dismantled and the new structure connected to the existing lower tier.
(Photo: Liverpool FC)
[/article]
Liverpool to submit £60m Anfield Road Stand planning application - The Athletic
We all knew this was coming, but good news none the less, 60,000 seems like a good number.
