Everton’s new 52,888 capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock and the regenerative masterplan for the surrounding area has been given the green light to move forward, with the government offering no objection to the unanimous planning consent granted by Liverpool City Council in February.
Global design engineering consultants Buro Happold is tasked with delivering the engineering and specialist technical design for the stadium, as well as other works including the vital protection and restoration of the surrounding area of Liverpool’s historic dockland.
The project encompasses the construction of an iconic landmark and new home for the club, harnessing the surrounding environment and respecting the heritage of the dockland. The challenge of building a stadium on a World Heritage Site has been at the center of plans for the project design, with detailed site investigation documenting the 900m of listed dock wall and repairs planned to ensure their long-term protection. Avoiding damage to the wall was a driving factor in the north-south orientation of the stadium.
The development of the new stadium and associated plans for a Goodison Legacy is said to create around 15,000 jobs and generate an estimated £1.3bn for the local economy.
Buro Happold has been working closely with the club since the project’s early stages, with 16 engineering and specialist technical disciplines helping with the delivery, as part of a project team including Laing O’Rourke, Pattern Architects and Planit-IE.
The stadium has been designed to channel the character, tradition and atmosphere of Goodison Park in its new location at Bramley-Moore Dock. Sustainable design principles will
ensure it is operationally efficient while preserving the integrity and heritage assets of the surrounding area for future generations.
It will also be a valuable community asset – bringing economic and social benefits to the area. Everton consulted on and set out 11 key principles for the design to ensure the project provides the right feel for the club, fans and the wider community of the city of Liverpool. These include respecting heritage, delivering an iconic landmark for Liverpool and creating an environmentally friendly and sustainable stadium. Buro Happold has been working with the club to help deliver their award-winning consultation since the development of these principles and will continue to play a key role in ensuring they are achieved.
In terms of the day-to-day running of the stadium, Buro Happold will use its expertise to help incorporate technology that enhances the matchday experience, brings fans closer to the action and ensures a safe and efficient flow of people in and around the stadium on matchday.
Simon Wainwright, Partner, Buro Happold said: “We at Buro Happold are delighted to have supported Everton over many years to achieve this important milestone. We can now move forward and make the new stadium a reality for the club, supporters and the city.
“This is a fitting outcome of all the hard work, expertise and careful development of the new stadium that recognizes the historic nature of the site. The works will give new life and regeneration to this important part of Liverpool – whilst providing the club with an amazing new landmark facility.”
Colin Chong, Stadium Development Director at Everton Football Club, added: “This is a momentous milestone and I’d like to thank every Evertonian, along with the many organizations, the tens of thousands of people across the city region and the team of dedicated staff and consultants who have played a vital role in getting us to this point.”
