• Home Page
• -
• News Centre
• -
• News Archive
• -
• 2008
• -
• August
• -
• Kirkby transformation called in for public inquiry

A £400m scheme which could transform Kirkby for future generations could be jeopardised by delays.

The application, brought by Tesco, is to create a new 50,000-seater stadium for Everton Football Club together with new shops, restaurants, a hotel and offices, creating more than 2,300 jobs.

It was referred to the Government Office North West in June this year after Knowsley’s planning committee recommended it for approval. It has now been called in for a Public Inquiry and the lengthy delays this will create could place the project at risk.

The Leader of Knowsley Council, Councillor Ron Round, said: “We are extremely disappointed as a Public Inquiry will delay the development – indeed this delay, in the current economic climate, places the entire project in jeopardy. From all of the consultation we have carried out, we believe that the majority of local residents are in favour of transforming Kirkby. The local elections in May this year gave the Council a clear mandate to continue with the scheme.”

“We have searched long and hard for years to attract the right investor to Kirkby and this scheme cannot be equalled. At this point in time, there is no plan B for Kirkby and no plan B for Everton Football Club. We will do all we can to keep the scheme alive and make sure the future of Kirkby is not put at risk.”

The Public Inquiry is expected to be held within the next 12 months.

Tesco originally submitted its planning application in January this year and the application has resulted in the borough’s largest-ever consultation exercise. At each stage, the views of residents and neighbouring authorities were taken into account.

The Leader of the Council added: “It was disappointing that some neighbouring authorities continued to object despite the improvements they requested having been made to the scheme. Their continued objections, therefore, could only have been for political reasons.

“It is particularly regrettable that some community leaders in Merseyside seemed unable to do the right thing for the Merseyside sub-region, which was to put aside their personal views in relation to Everton Football Club.

“This will only serve to damage the reputation of the region and undermine investment in Merseyside in the future.”

EDITOR’S NOTE

The plans were recommended for approval in June and, due to the nature of the development, referred to the Government Office North West for approval.

The scheme would more than 2,300 jobs, including 350 which Tesco has earmarked for long-term unemployed Knowsley residents.

Kirkby would also benefit from large-scale environmental improvements.

The development would attract an extra 1.2m visitors to Knowsley every year, spending an additional £13.6m in the local economy.

Local supply chains would be boosted, with up to £900,000 of orders per year with local businesses.