Liverpool will begin their redevelopment of the Anfield Road stand next week, taking the stadium’s capacity to 61,000 and making it the third-largest ground in the Premier League. Liverpool will begin work on their new Anfield Road stand with an official ground-breaking ceremony next week.
The stadium’s capacity will rise to 61,000 after the redevelopment. Anfield will be the third-largest club stadium in the nation, after Old Trafford Stadium at Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Pre-season preparations were made by the Reds after they received planning permission in June. The construction will take place during this campaign as well as the next. Matches will go ahead without any disruption. Five years ago, the construction of Anfield’s new Main Stand was completed. It added 8,500 more seats.
“We have been clear from the beginning that in order for this expansion to go ahead we needed the co-operation of local residents and the community, to successfully navigate the complex planning landscape, and to ensure the project is financially viable,” Liverpool managing director Andy Hughes told the club’s official website.
“We needed certainty for this project to progress and are now in a position to be able to move forward. We began this journey in 2014 and are grateful to everyone for the contributions they have made to bring the project to this stage.”
Liverpool first received initial outline planning permission for a redeveloped Anfield Road stand in 2014 with a view to adding 4,825 seats. Club chiefs decided to increase capacity, and spent 2019 consulting residents to prepare a revised planning permission request.
Although the coronavirus pandemic delayed the process, Liverpool still moved ahead with its plans in December 2020. They received planning permission this summer.
The redevelopment is expected to be completed by the summer of 2023 at a total cost in the region of £60million.
Anfield also received permission from Liverpool City Council to host up six concerts or other major events at the stadium over a five-year period.
Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd was appointed the principal contractor by Reds. They will provide 35 work placements as well as more than 800 training and apprenticeship weeks throughout the construction.
While the construction of the new Anfield Road stand will focus on the renovation and expansion of the upper tier, 400 matchday roles will be created for stewards.
Liverpool’s statement adds: “As well as an increased capacity, the redeveloped stand will be similar to the Main Stand, with improved concourses and sports bar lounge hospitality facilities. This stand will also see the relocation of the Family Park to a covered position.
“Throughout the design process, careful consideration has once again been given to Anfield’s world-class atmosphere through the development of an acoustic and lighting strategy to match that of the one developed with the Main Stand.”