EPL side Liverpool has "formally applied for planning permission to redevelop Anfield and increase the ground’s capacity to almost 59,000," according to Luke Edwards of the London TELEGRAPH. After two decades of "wrestling with whether to move to a new stadium in the city or expand their existing home," Liverpool is "confident that their proposal has the backing of fans, as well as residents and businesses, which will help in their attempt to gain planning permission." The club also appointed Tom Doyle, "an experienced project director who worked on the London 2012 Olympic programme and more recently the SSE Hydro Arena in Glasgow, to oversee the project if the proposals are given the green light" (TELEGRAPH, 6/4). In Liverpool, Mark Johnson reported the document applies for "detailed planning consent to expand the ground’s antiquated Main Stand." It also "outlines consent for the expansion of its Anfield Road Stand." If consent is granted, the proposals "would see the capacity of a new Main Stand rise by 8,500, taking it to nearly 21,000" (LIVERPOOL ECHO, 6/4). The BBC reported the application "is expected to be considered by the city's planning committee later this year." Work "could begin early in 2015" and be completed in time for the '16-'17 season. Liverpool CEO Ian Ayre said, "A lot of good work has been done and we still have more to achieve" (BBC, 6/4).
