Liverpool to begin stadium work in May

The Merseyside club and Liverpool City Council announced today work will begin next month with construction planned to start in July.

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New owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, along with club chief executive Rick Parry, held talks with Liverpool City Council leader Warren Bradley and director of regeneration John Kelly at the weekend after which the green light was given to the redevelopment of Stanley Park, where the £215million stadium will be sited.

A statement said: "Work on the final legal agreements between the city council and club is almost complete which will allow work on the new stadium to start next month under the existing planning permission granted last year.

"Today's announcement has effectively ended the possibility of a joint stadium for the city's two Premiership clubs.

"Despite full and frank talks between the city council and the two clubs, the proposal had too many unknowns and would have created significant delays which could have put the entire new Anfield and Stanley Park project at risk."

A review of the initially proposed 60,000 capacity - which may be increased - is ongoing and tenders for the redevelopment of Stanley Park will be carried out this month.

Parry said: "We have been working for many years with the city council and the community to deliver not just a new stadium but also the regeneration of north Liverpool.

"Our new owners have taken the sensible decision to review the plans to enable us to create an even better stadium that will serve the needs of the club and the fans for the next 50 years. Already, some very exciting ideas are emerging and we are working closely with the city council on the best way forward.

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'New Anfield'

"We are all endeavouring to ensure that the plans can be implemented, as soon as possible while at the same time ensuring there is no delay in the regeneration process.

"We are delighted with the working relationship we have with the city council. Our goals are the same: to create an incredible facility the whole city can be proud of."

Construction is hoped to start by the end of the July with a completion target of the end of 2008.

"A joint venture company will be set up by the end of this month to deliver the comprehensive regeneration of Stanley Park and the new community partnership centre," the statement continued.

"Tenders for the refurbishment of Stanley Park will go out in April with a contractor to be appointed and work starting by the end of July, with the work completed by the end of 2008.

"A review of the 60,000 capacity of the new stadium is being carried out by the club and consultations with fans are already under way."

Council leader Bradley spoke of the dream of a "new Anfield".

"It has long been the dream of fans, and the ambition of the club, to build a fantastic stadium to rival the best anywhere in the world.

"Today, the decisions are now on place to turn the dream of a new Anfield into a reality.

"We have worked tirelessly with the club and its new owners, and the final agreements are now almost in place to allow the work to start in a matter of weeks. A world-class stadium, fit for a world-class club and a word-class city, is now a real prospect.

"The benefits will reach out much further than football. Our agreement will secure the massive regeneration of the Anfield area and the transformation of Stanley Park. Today will go down as a significant date in the history of the club and the city."