THE final slice of public funding for the scheme that will see a new home for Liverpool FC in Stanley Park was agreed last night.
The board of the Northwest Regional Development Agency voted an award of £9.3m to add to the £9m already given from the European Objective 1 fund.
The decision paves the way for Liverpool FC’s new owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, to start work on a new home for the club once their new planning application is approved.
Last night, Steve Broomhead, chief executive of the NWDA, welcomed the decision of his board.
He said: “The £18m of NWDA and Objective 1 money will lever in a private investment of around £300m and that is a tremendous return. The scheme is extremely important for the regeneration of Anfield and Beckfield.
“The cash will go towards refurbishing the park and building a new community partnership centre alongside the new ground. The decision is a major step towards carrying out this project.”
Liverpool City Council has agreed to underwrite any losses incurred by the NWDA should the US-based owners fail to secure private sector cash for the new stadium.
But there is confidence within the council and the NWDA that there will be no financial hurdles for the two owners, despite reported problems due to the current credit crunch.
With the new planning application going to the planning committee within months it means work on the new ground could start early in 2008, with opening planned for the start of the 2010/11 season.
The cash has been earmarked for an improvement scheme in Stanley Park which will see the historic park given its biggest- ever facelift.
There was a slight possibility that the vital public funding may not have been granted, and that could have meant the entire project being halted or held up.
This is because the whole scheme is dependent on the new stadium being built as part of an overall regeneration package.
The NWDA, set up to help improve the quality of life and economic prosperity in the region, has awarded the grant in an attempt to drive forward the proposed development and regeneration of the Anfield area of the city.
The proposed scheme includes the creation of a shop-lined plaza on the current ground site and also the restoration of surrounding historic structures in the park, which was awarded planning permission earlier this week.
The new stadium will have a stone-work base on the north, west and east sides with mainly glass facades above. The south side will be clad in metal and overlook the Plaza.
One striking feature of the ground will see the south east and south west corners of the stadium visually open, providing views from the park deep into its heart.
The new LFC ground will also incorporate dedicated facilities for the Anfield Sport and Community Centre and Liverpool Hope University, with external facilities including tennis courts and multi-use games areas.
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