Liverpool make big step in £150m Anfield redevelopment plan.
Liverpool have put together £150 million plans to redevelop Anfield, with managing director Ian Ayre confident that planning permission will be granted for the work this summer.
The obstacle for the Reds has been buying up some of the houses surrounding their stadium in order to begin the construction process, but Ayre assures fans that the club are ready to make a huge step in the upgrade.
“We are in an interesting period in terms of our aspirations around the stadium,” the Reds’ MD Ayre told the Echo.
“Our goal is to extend Anfield. But we need certainty and that comes with the acquisition of properties.
“Real progress has been made in acquiring them. Once they have all been acquired we will go through the planning process. We would expect to be in a position to make that a certainty this summer. Once planning has been achieved then we can start construction.”
It will be a relief for Liverpool fans to hear that there are only a few houses remaining to be bought by the club, particularly as the stadium upgrade plan has been in the works since 2000.
Probably the most galling moment for Reds supporters was when former owner George Gillett said in February 2007, “The shovel needs to be in the ground in the next 60 days,” and they could be forgiven for their scepticism.
With no visible progress made on the stadium since John Henry and Tom Werner’s Fenway Sports Group took over the club in 2010 – despite the pair stating its high priority when purchasing the club – the day work does begin still feels a long way off regardless of Ayre’s words.
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