Laing O'Rourke has been appointed as 'preferred contractor' to build a new 52,000 capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock on Liverpool's waterfront for Everton Football Club.

A pre-construction services agreement (PCSA) for a design and build contract is due to be signed after a competitive procurement process. Both parties will now work in partnership to develop a detailed and robust design and delivery programme. The programme will fully utilise Laing O'Rourke's digital engineering expertise and industry-leading knowledge of modern methods of construction to bring Everton's stadium vision to life.

In December 2019, Everton revealed its final stadium designs ahead of the submission of a detailed planning application, which is expected to be determined by Liverpool City Council in the summer of 2020.

Work on the new stadium is expected to start later this year, subject to planning consent, and is expected to take three years. A final construction timeline will be shared during the PCSA period.

At the heart of Everton's proposals is a stunning brick, steel and glass stadium design which takes its inspiration from the historic maritime and warehouse buildings nearby. Designed by MEIS architects, the stadium structure combines the historic and modern, with the brick base incorporating a subtle nod to Goodison Park's famous Archibald Leitch lattice work, while the dynamic roof structure is made from steel and glass giving the stadium a modern finish.

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The proposed waterfront stadium comprises of four distinctive stands, including a large, steep 'home end' which will house 13,000 passionate Evertonians.

Everton's plans for the new stadium, which will sit within Peel L&P's Liverpool Waters site, would have a transformational impact on North Liverpool, kick-starting the regeneration of the northern docklands, contributing a £1bn boost to the city region's economy, creating up to 15,000 jobs and attracting 1.4 million visitors to the city each year. 

It is estimated that The People's Project – the combination of Everton's planned new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock and the delivery of a community-led legacy at Goodison Park - will deliver nearly £800m of societal value over a 10-year period. This will be supported by Everton, the Club's official charity Everton in the Community and Laing O'Rourke working in partnership to make sure the people and businesses of Merseyside benefit via employment, apprenticeship, training and supply chain opportunities.

Laing O'Rourke Director, Paul McNerney said: "We are delighted that Everton has chosen our team to work alongside the Club and local community to deliver The People's Project. We recognise the transformative impact the project will bring to the Club, to the city and to the many people who will be part of this exciting journey.

"Laing O'Rourke has a long track record of delivering sport stadia, utilising our unique engineering and manufacturing capabilities, all of which will now underpin this scheme.

"Our local team, supply chain and consultant partners have worked with us across many major schemes in Liverpool including Liverpool ONE, Alder Hey Children's Hospital and Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. The People's Project will allow us to advance our commitment to training, skills and careers in the area – and to support Everton in the Community in their wonderful life-changing and life-saving work."

Everton Chief Executive Professor Denise Barrett-Baxendale said: "Appointing Laing O'Rourke is another important step towards delivering a new world-class waterfront stadium for Everton.

"We are partnering with an organisation who bring a wealth of experience and a track-record of quality, sustainability and global delivery, including major investment projects right here in Liverpool.

"There is still a lot of work to do on this project. Working alongside colleagues at Laing O'Rourke we will develop our construction programme, while at the same time continuing to engage with our supporters on a number of matters as we await our planning application to be determined by Liverpool City Council."

(MH/JG)