Plans for a new home for Tranmere Rovers have moved a step closer after proposed crucial funding was accepted.
A feasibility study for the Sports City project on the former Bidston Dock will now go ahead after Wirral Council agreed to receive £100,000 from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. The plans are said to be worth around £100m and the new stadium for the League Two side would act as a centrepiece.
Members were told by David Ball, assistant director for special projects at Wirral Council, the land at the former dock was the only area feasible for a project of this size and the study would be funded between the council and the combined authority. Mr Ball said at this stage, owing to the impact of coronavirus on the club, Tranmere Rovers were not able to contribute financially but would do so if the project went into full development.
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Mr Ball said the ground would start out as a 15,000 seater with the potential to grow by another 10,000 should the club make the two-division leap to the Championship, where they were last seen in 2001. The assistant director said the club were “fully committed” to the project and should it go ahead, would sell their existing Prenton Park home to help fund the scheme.
It is thought that it could generate between £7-10m. Mr Ball added that the new ground would cost around £55m with the associated hotel and conferencing facilities priced at a further £27m. A digital golf driving range and food and retail outlets have also been proposed.
The assistant director added that the fees for the feasibility study were locked in at £200,000 - half from the council and half from the combined authority - and it was expected to complete by January 2023. Currently, Peel Land and Development owns the land and supports the principle of the project, but only wants to be involved in the plan as the land owner and does not want to get involved in developing the project itself.
The project was initially discussed with the combined authority two years ago. Wirral Council said at that time the plan was mainly focused on the new stadium, but it did not progress due to the pandemic.
It will fund its half of the study fees through its capital tranche, meaning it will not impact day-to-day services. Cllr David Burgess-Joyce said while he had “great faith” in Tranmere Rovers, he raised concerns about the council “spending money for someone else to make money”.
He added: “I have faith in Tranmere Rovers and their support for the Wirral, this feels similar to situations where we’re paying all the money and taking all the risk.” Councillors agreed to move forward with the plans and Alan Evans, Wirral Council’s director of regeneration and place, will now look to award the contract after tender.
