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What Might Still Happen Going Forward...

Despite the title, this is not a piece of speculation about results and transfer activity going forward to the end of the season and over the summer. There are many more erudite contributors than myself on this site who comment on such matters. No, and to some, rather boringly, this is about the prospects for our stadium, focusing on the planning process from here on in and the resulting start date for work on site at Bramley-Moore Dock.

Today, the application went before the members of the Planning Committee for them to debate the proposals based on the Planning Officer's Report, which is available to view on the Council's Web Site. The application, reference 20F/0001, is recommended for approval subject to 52 Conditions and a Section 106 Agreement. In parallel to that application, there are two applications for Listed Building Consent in relation to works to the boundary wall along the frontage to Regent Road and the water body and quaysides of Bramley-Moore Dock. There is also an outline application for the redevelopment of Goodison Park which the Planning Officer recommends should be considered alongside these applications.

There was a lot for the members of the committee to digest and it is to be hoped they have been well briefed over the last few weeks otherwise they could ask for more time and defer final determination at this committee. That would then extend the timeline by a further month.

Assuming the members accept the Planning Officer's recommendation to approve the application, it will then be referred to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government, Robert Jenrick MP.

The Council are obliged to consult with the Secretary of State before they can grant permission because the application has been the subject of an objection by Historic England who refer to the adverse impact of the proposed stadium on the Liverpool Mercantile City World Heritage Site, and the Council propose to approve the application. It is also the case that the Secretary of State's interest is triggered by the fact that the application involves issues of more than local importance. This is a reference in part to the wider socio-economic benefits from the development that extend into the City region.

The Secretary of State has 21 days from the date on which he notifies the City Council that he is in receipt of the application documents, objections to it, and statements in support, the committee papers, officer recommendations, and the Section 106 Agreement. From my experience with this process, the Agreement would need to have been signed off by all relevant parties, who in this instance are Everton Stadium Development Company, Liverpool City Council, Goodison Park Stadium Ltd, and Peel L&P Developments.

For those wondering what the Section 106 Agreement is, it is primarily a series of financial obligations to fund from the development, and off-site measures necessary to mitigate the impact of the development on the wider area. For example, the club will have to fund a shuttle bus service to and from the City Centre on match/event days.

Having satisfied himself he has all that he needs and advised the Council accordingly, the clock starts running on the 21 days. Within this period, any person or interested party can write to the Secretary of State with their views and how the application should be determined. In the event that, at the end of this period, he advises the Council he is satisfied with the reasons for approval and how they have dealt with the application, the permission can then be granted by the Council. If all goes to plan, even allowing for the member defferal referred to earlier, and for the time taken by the Secretary of State and the Council to submit and exchange documents and notifications, it could be that a consent could be granted sometime between mid-May and end of June.

Keep in mind, however, the dreaded words; "I'm from the Government and I'm here to help". Experience tells me that, once an application falls into the hands of the Government, the applicant has lost control over its destiny. I cannot pretend to having reviewed in detail the application and accompanying documents.

>Notwithstanding that, it seems to me that any decision on the proposal will boil down to the balance to be struck between the severe harm to the World Heritage Site and the wider social and economic benefits that derive from the scheme. If Jenrick is bold, and given the political pressures to rebalance the UK economy away from the "over-heated South-East" by promoting new infrastructure schemes in the North, he will allow the council to determine the application as they see fit. The latest unemployment figures could assist in that regard. With that in mind, it is to be hoped that he will, during this period, be the subject of some serious political lobbying in support of the scheme.

Should he find, however, that the competing arguments are too much of a headache, then he will take the coward's way out and kick the issue down the road by calling in the application for his determination by appointing an Inspector and holding a Public Inquiry. All those who lodged objections with the Secretary of State in the 3-week period could make further submissions to such an inquiry and, if they so choose, appear in person.

All this will take time to arrange and conduct, followed by the presentation by the Inspector of his report to the Secretary of State recommending how he should proceed. By the time that happens, will Jenrick still be in post! Assuming he is, I would allow at best 12 months for this process to exhaust itself. I hope with all my heart it doesn't come about but, if it does, then consent may be put back until mid-2022.

Unfortunately it doesn't end there. If the conditions (as presently drafted) survive, be aware some of these are what's known as pre-commencement conditions. They require the applicant to satisfy the Council on certain matters before work on the stadium can commence — such as, for example, a detailed Construction Management Plan to be approved by the Council. So a start on building the stadium could be late 2022 or early 2023.

It's all like being in lockdown. Let's hope not and the Secretary of State does the right thing by us.

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