Speke Garston Development Company has moved quickly to quash speculation that its 40ha (100-acre) Estuary Commerce Park will be Liverpool FC’s next home.
Mounting opposition from residents has forced the football club to look at alternative sites to Stanley Park, where it had planned to build a 75,000-seat stadium, and talks between Speke Garston Development Company and Liverpool FC bosses are understood to have taken place.
Former railway land at Speke, south Liverpool, and an 8.1ha (20-acre) site in the ownership of Peel Holdings, has been associated with the proposals, said market sources.
But Speke Garston Development Company, which is funded by Liverpool city council and the North West Development Agency, has been quick to deny rumours that either the Estuary Commerce Park or land close to Boulevard Industry Park is under threat.
Speke Garston chief executive, Bob Lane, said: “Liverpool FC are not looking at any of our sites. They are not involved.”
Liverpool market observers said the club is anxious to demonstrate the lack of feasible alternatives to Stanley Park, and that this will form part of its submission in the event of a public inquiry.
The club’s great rival, Everton FC, is also hoping to move to a new stadium. Houston Securities has bid for the 14.9ha (37-acre) Kings Waterfront site, Liverpool, in a bid to improve facilities.
But city council-inspired plans for a joint Liverpool-Everton stadium at North Dock are likely to be dropped, following a decision by council leader Mike Storey not to back the scheme.
EGi News 01/02/01
