Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram hailed Bramley-Moore Dock as one of the “most significant regeneration projects” in a decade for Merseyside and the surrounding area.
Mr Rotheram made the comments after being given a tour of Everton’s new stadium site along with Graham Morgan, the leader of Knowsley Council. Both donned hi-vis jackets and hard hats as they were given a glimpse behind the scenes as work continues at the north Liverpool site.
The tour showcased the rise of the four concrete corners of what is to become a 52,888-seater stadium and further preparatory work ahead of the first sections of steelwork arriving this summer.
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Highlighting the importance of the project to the region’s economy, Mr Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: "The Bramley-Moore development stands as one of the most significant regeneration projects our region has seen in more than a decade and will be a major catalyst for regeneration and revival in an area that has been crying out for investment for decades.
"It's not just about a football stadium, but is an important project that will generate a myriad of social and economic benefits for communities across our region. From creating thousands of local jobs, training and apprenticeship opportunities, to attracting hundreds of thousands of new visitors to our region and launching programmes that will help to tackle health and social inequalities. It was fantastic to visit the site and see how things are progressing - especially the important work to preserve the heritage of the site, partly funded through our £15m grant."
Everton chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale, stadium development director Colin Chong and Laing O’Rourke project director Gareth Jacques joined the politicians on the tour, after which Ms Barrett-Baxendale said: "We were pleased to welcome Mayor Rotheram and Cllr Morgan to Bramley-Moore Dock and show them the progress being made on-site. The importance of this development to not only our football club but our city region cannot be underplayed or underestimated.
"What Everton Football Club is delivering at Bramley-Moore Dock is truly transformational and our city region leaders have a real ‘once-in-a-generation’ opportunity to harness the incredible package of socio-economic benefits on offer including the financial boost to our local economy, the creation of tens of thousands of jobs, the millions of new visitors our stadium will attract and the accelerated regeneration of two sites in North Liverpool [Bramley-Moore Dock and Goodison Park]."
