Liverpool consider further Anfield expansion
BYJAMES PEARCE
Liverpool are considering their options as they set their sights on further expansion of Anfield.
Following the completion of the impressive new Main Stand, the Reds have confirmed that their focus has turned to how best to transform Anfield Road and boost the stadium's capacity to around 60,000.
Phase two of the redevelopment would cost around £40million to £45million and provide around 5,000 extra seats.
Liverpool have had outline planning permission in place for Anfield Road since 2014.
The standard three-year time frame would have been due to lapse in September this year, but it has emerged that the club actually have until August 2019 before planning permission expires.
When Liverpool put in the application for the Main Stand to Liverpool City Council they tagged on outline planning permission for Anfield Road.
As they went through the construction process, a number of amendments were made – the last of which came in August 2016 so the three years actually started from that point.
Owners Fenway Sports Group always intended to wait until phase one was completed before making any decision on further redevelopment.
The new Main Stand, which lifted capacity to around 54,000 with a further 8,500 seats, actually opened its doors to fans last September, but for most of the season the ground floor has been a building site with temporary facilities in place.
The £110million project was effectively finished last month when the new dressing rooms and media facilities were used for the Merseyside derby.
The new dressing rooms at Anfield used for the first time at the derby match.
Firm guarantees about rebuilding Anfield Road remain some way off with Liverpool unwilling to set a time-frame for a decision. But the club's chief operating officer Andy Hughes admits it's now very much on the agenda.
“We always said that we would complete the Main Stand and assess its success before looking at any development for Anfield Road,” Hughes told the ECHO.
The new Main Stand was opened last September and is now virtually completed.
“Anfield Road provides an opportunity to further develop our stadium in the future and the club's position is that we're going to start exploring the viability.
“We will follow the same robust process for Anfield Road as we did for the Main Stand. We are currently working on design, feasibility, cost, capacity and economic viability options.
“Only once we have completed this comprehensive process and come to a conclusion will be it be the right time to move forward with any development programme.”
The lack of hospitality seating in Anfield Road has been held up as one potential stumbling block as it would take longer to generate the revenue required to pay off construction costs.
Anfield stadium, with the Anfield Road (far end) now seen as the most likely area for further expansion
Asked about further stadium expansion last year, the club's principal owner John W Henry said: “I don't know if there is a next step because ticket prices are an issue in England.”
However, Liverpool remain determined to find a model which works for the club.
“There are lots of pluses and minuses from a financial point of view,” Hughes added. “Putting hospitality seats in means there's a greater build cost. It's a simpler assessment without hospitality.
“It needs to work across many fronts. From a design point of view, operational point of view and financial point of view.
“We are exploring all those things. We haven't ruled anything in or out at this point.”
The Anfield Road scheme which Liverpool currently have planning permission for would see an extra 4,800 seats put in.
However, the ECHO understands that they are likely to pick a different option which would drive capacity slightly higher.
Having outline permission already means that Liverpool can tweak the existing plans prior to August 2019 rather than submit a fresh application - making the process easier.
The Main Stand has proved a big hit with every home game this season sold out.
It was paid for with a £110million inter-company loan from FSG's credit facilities which has an interest rate of 1.24%. With the Main Stand generating an extra £20million per season, within six years the debt will be cleared.
Hughes said: “We're absolutely delighted with the success of the Main Stand expansion project. The feedback from supporters has been incredible.
Outstanding achievement
“For a construction project of this scale to come in on time and on budget is an outstanding achievement by everyone involved.”
It promises to be a busy summer at Anfield with the stadium undergoing a major facelift – both inside and out.
Extensive work will be carried out to improve provisions for disabled fans ahead of the 2017/18 season.
Around 1,000 seats will have to be moved during the off-season to ensure that the Reds meet the requirements of the Accessible Stadia Guide.
Wheelchair bays increased
Liverpool have been working closely with the club's supporters committee and the Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association (LDSA) over the changes.
The number of wheelchair bays will be increased from 195 to more than 250 and they will add more than 150 extra amenity and easy access seats.
They are creating new lift shafts, removing structural walls, recasting ramps to more accessible gradients and converting lounge space into raised disabled seating areas.
The Reds are in the process of relocating those season ticket holders affected by the changes to other areas of the stadium. The club now believe it will result in Anfield's overall capacity being reduced by around 100 seats.
Kop expansion
The Kop will be expanded as part of the project by filling in the corners at the back on both sides of the world famous structure – creating room for an extra 470 seats.
New pitch laid this summer
Anfield will finally get a completely new pitch this summer, coupled with a state-of-the-art drainage and irrigation system.
It will be the most advanced ‘Desso GrassMaster’ surface - a combination of natural grass and artificial fibres.
The current one is well past its recommended 10-year life span having been in place since 2001. It will be ripped up straight after the final game of the season against Middlesbrough on May 21.
Liverpool have had to settle for simply reseeding the pitch in recent summers due to the access required by cranes while the new Main Stand was built.
New store on course
Outside the stadium, work is continuing on the new flagship club store with the main structural work now completed.
It's on course to be open by the start of next season – creating an additional 60 jobs.
Away from Anfield, Liverpool will submit their planning application later this month to build a new first-team training complex at the Kirkby Academy.
Training ground update
The ECHO revealed back in February that the Reds had decided to leave their historic Melwood base after reaching an agreement with Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council over the £50million project.
Liverpool hope work will start in early 2018 and be completed by the summer of 2019.
From the Main Stand to the Kirkby redevelopment - coupled with everything going on at Anfield and improvements made to the facilities at Melwood - it adds up to around £200million in investment.
Hughes added: “It's important that we continue to invest across the club and develop our infrastructures and facilities.
“All these developments are an important part of the club's strategy to continuously improve and ultimately support the team and further attract players.
“Equally, we must also continue to manage our operations of the club and maintain the financial stability everyone has worked so hard to establish.”
BYJAMES PEARCE
- 07:15, 5 MAY 2017
- UPDATED07:34, 5 MAY 2017
Liverpool are considering their options as they set their sights on further expansion of Anfield.
Following the completion of the impressive new Main Stand, the Reds have confirmed that their focus has turned to how best to transform Anfield Road and boost the stadium's capacity to around 60,000.
Phase two of the redevelopment would cost around £40million to £45million and provide around 5,000 extra seats.
Liverpool have had outline planning permission in place for Anfield Road since 2014.
The standard three-year time frame would have been due to lapse in September this year, but it has emerged that the club actually have until August 2019 before planning permission expires.
When Liverpool put in the application for the Main Stand to Liverpool City Council they tagged on outline planning permission for Anfield Road.
As they went through the construction process, a number of amendments were made – the last of which came in August 2016 so the three years actually started from that point.
Owners Fenway Sports Group always intended to wait until phase one was completed before making any decision on further redevelopment.
The new Main Stand, which lifted capacity to around 54,000 with a further 8,500 seats, actually opened its doors to fans last September, but for most of the season the ground floor has been a building site with temporary facilities in place.
The £110million project was effectively finished last month when the new dressing rooms and media facilities were used for the Merseyside derby.
The new dressing rooms at Anfield used for the first time at the derby match.
Firm guarantees about rebuilding Anfield Road remain some way off with Liverpool unwilling to set a time-frame for a decision. But the club's chief operating officer Andy Hughes admits it's now very much on the agenda.
“We always said that we would complete the Main Stand and assess its success before looking at any development for Anfield Road,” Hughes told the ECHO.
The new Main Stand was opened last September and is now virtually completed.
“Anfield Road provides an opportunity to further develop our stadium in the future and the club's position is that we're going to start exploring the viability.
“We will follow the same robust process for Anfield Road as we did for the Main Stand. We are currently working on design, feasibility, cost, capacity and economic viability options.
“Only once we have completed this comprehensive process and come to a conclusion will be it be the right time to move forward with any development programme.”
The lack of hospitality seating in Anfield Road has been held up as one potential stumbling block as it would take longer to generate the revenue required to pay off construction costs.
Anfield stadium, with the Anfield Road (far end) now seen as the most likely area for further expansion
Asked about further stadium expansion last year, the club's principal owner John W Henry said: “I don't know if there is a next step because ticket prices are an issue in England.”
However, Liverpool remain determined to find a model which works for the club.
“There are lots of pluses and minuses from a financial point of view,” Hughes added. “Putting hospitality seats in means there's a greater build cost. It's a simpler assessment without hospitality.
“It needs to work across many fronts. From a design point of view, operational point of view and financial point of view.
“We are exploring all those things. We haven't ruled anything in or out at this point.”
The Anfield Road scheme which Liverpool currently have planning permission for would see an extra 4,800 seats put in.
However, the ECHO understands that they are likely to pick a different option which would drive capacity slightly higher.
Having outline permission already means that Liverpool can tweak the existing plans prior to August 2019 rather than submit a fresh application - making the process easier.
The Main Stand has proved a big hit with every home game this season sold out.
It was paid for with a £110million inter-company loan from FSG's credit facilities which has an interest rate of 1.24%. With the Main Stand generating an extra £20million per season, within six years the debt will be cleared.
Hughes said: “We're absolutely delighted with the success of the Main Stand expansion project. The feedback from supporters has been incredible.
Outstanding achievement
“For a construction project of this scale to come in on time and on budget is an outstanding achievement by everyone involved.”
It promises to be a busy summer at Anfield with the stadium undergoing a major facelift – both inside and out.
Extensive work will be carried out to improve provisions for disabled fans ahead of the 2017/18 season.
Around 1,000 seats will have to be moved during the off-season to ensure that the Reds meet the requirements of the Accessible Stadia Guide.
Wheelchair bays increased
Liverpool have been working closely with the club's supporters committee and the Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association (LDSA) over the changes.
The number of wheelchair bays will be increased from 195 to more than 250 and they will add more than 150 extra amenity and easy access seats.
They are creating new lift shafts, removing structural walls, recasting ramps to more accessible gradients and converting lounge space into raised disabled seating areas.
The Reds are in the process of relocating those season ticket holders affected by the changes to other areas of the stadium. The club now believe it will result in Anfield's overall capacity being reduced by around 100 seats.
Kop expansion
The Kop will be expanded as part of the project by filling in the corners at the back on both sides of the world famous structure – creating room for an extra 470 seats.
New pitch laid this summer
Anfield will finally get a completely new pitch this summer, coupled with a state-of-the-art drainage and irrigation system.
It will be the most advanced ‘Desso GrassMaster’ surface - a combination of natural grass and artificial fibres.
The current one is well past its recommended 10-year life span having been in place since 2001. It will be ripped up straight after the final game of the season against Middlesbrough on May 21.
Liverpool have had to settle for simply reseeding the pitch in recent summers due to the access required by cranes while the new Main Stand was built.
New store on course
Outside the stadium, work is continuing on the new flagship club store with the main structural work now completed.
It's on course to be open by the start of next season – creating an additional 60 jobs.
Away from Anfield, Liverpool will submit their planning application later this month to build a new first-team training complex at the Kirkby Academy.
Training ground update
The ECHO revealed back in February that the Reds had decided to leave their historic Melwood base after reaching an agreement with Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council over the £50million project.
Liverpool hope work will start in early 2018 and be completed by the summer of 2019.
From the Main Stand to the Kirkby redevelopment - coupled with everything going on at Anfield and improvements made to the facilities at Melwood - it adds up to around £200million in investment.
Hughes added: “It's important that we continue to invest across the club and develop our infrastructures and facilities.
“All these developments are an important part of the club's strategy to continuously improve and ultimately support the team and further attract players.
“Equally, we must also continue to manage our operations of the club and maintain the financial stability everyone has worked so hard to establish.”
