Liverpool to expand Anfield stadium after a long wait

After a long wait, Liverpool Football Club finally unveiled its Anfield stadium expansion plans on April 23, 2014 with detailed proposals for the expansion of its Main Stand and outline proposals for expansion of its Anfield Road Stand.

The club had originally come up with a plan to replace Anfield over a decade ago in May 2002 followed by a proposal to build a brand new stadium, provisionally called Stanley Park Stadium, in 2007. However, that plan never saw the light of the day due to the 2008 economic crisis and subsequently it was shelved.

In October 2012 new owners Fenway Sports Group announced their decision to redevelop and expand the current club stadium Anfield rather than proceed with the planned new stadium.

Subsequently, in April 2014 Liverpool signed a legal agreement with Liverpool City Council and Your Housing Group to redevelop the surrounding Anfield area. This is seen as a significant step towards the renovation of the stadium. The redevelopment is worth around £260 million.

 

Design proposals

As per the detailed design proposals, the redevelopment of the Main Stand will add an additional 8,500 seats taking the Main Stand capacity to nearly 21,000 and overall Anfield capacity to around 54,000.

Incorporating the iconic club crest into the proposed Main Stand’s exterior elevation, the scheme will also include a two-storey podium and a carefully designed cloister which will become the new home for the Hillsborough Memorial.

The Main Stand will open onto a wide public concourse which will link the stadium into the wider Anfield area.

The outline proposals for the Anfield Road Stand provide for an increase in its capacity of around 4,800 seats.

Liverpool City Council has confirmed that negotiations with property owners are progressing well and all parties are close to agreement but there are still details to be finalised.

Following this consultation process, Liverpool FC expects to refine its plans and submit a planning application to the City Council during the summer. If consent is granted, construction work on the proposed Main Stand could begin by early 2015 and it could be complete in time for the 2016-17 season.

« Previous News: Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu to get £330mn facelift
» Next News: Qatar begins site preparation works on Al Wakrah, the first World Cup stadium