Liverpool defers decision on Sandhills upgrades
In a familiar theme for football-linked planning bids this summer, Merseytravel’s expansion of facilities at the closest station to Everton’s Hill Dickinson stadium has been pushed back, pending a site visit.
The application was considered at Liverpool City Council’s planning committee yesterday, with approval recommended by officers.
Criticism was aired last year, with Merseytravel and city region leaders criticised for failing to get ahead and plan ahead of the 50,000-plus capacity stadium’s opening.
Some measures were introduced to accommodate the thousands of Everton supporters who use the station following the club’s move from Goodison Park to Liverpool’s waterfront.
But with matchdays leading to spikes in station use, safety concerns remain, leading to further measures being proposed, and recommended for approval.
Chief among the proposed measures was to alter the existing crowd management zone, including an extended corralling area, install a bus stop interchange at Dunes Way, install permanent toilet facilities and staff welfare areas, along with other alterations to infrastructure such as new emergency and pedestrian gates to Dunes Way.
The corralling area is one that has attracted criticism. The plan, as set out in the scheme’s design & access statement, is that the existing corralling area facing north onto Sandhills Lane, will be extended south along the strip of land between Dunes Way and the existing station ramp to the footbridge.
The southernmost extent of this will have new stair access to connect the Hunts Cross and Liverpool queues to the existing footbridge ramp.
Planning documents submitted to LCC stated that it has “become evident that the station’s continued ability to cope with the demand seen on match/event days requires further improvements to able to efficiently and effectively handle the volume of pedestrian traffic being generated”.
Although not directly coming from Everton FC, the deferment has echoes of the frustrations felt by rivals Liverpool over plans to permanently close part of Anfield Road and adjust its planning consent for hosting events, which has twice failed to win approval this summer.
Owen Ellis Architects worked with Merseytravel on the application, which can be found by searching reference 26F/1465 on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal.
