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Liverpool have halted the planned redevelopment of their Anfield Road stand for a year.<\/p>\nLiverpool have halted the planned redevelopment of their Anfield Road stand for a year.<\/p>\n
The club have announced the coronavirus pandemic has forced them to delay the expansion.<\/p>\n
The earliest target to complete the project \u2013 which will take Anfield\u2019s capacity to 61,000 \u2013 is now the summer of 2023 having been initially penciled in to be finished in 2022.<\/p>\n
Liverpool\u2019s chief operating officer Andy Hughes told the club\u2019s official website: \u201cWe have experienced a number of delays to the planned project as a direct result of the Covid-19 lockdown.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the challenges that many sectors are facing right now, including the construction, procurement and public sectors, we are taking a responsible approach to pause the project for at least 12 months.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe complex build program for Anfield Road is an 18-month process and needs two clear summer closed season windows in order for it to be successful.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is why we are pausing on the project for at least 12 months so the earliest we could complete the program is summer 2023 rather than summer 2022 as originally planned.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the planning application is no longer time-critical, it is our intention to submit our planning application at some stage during the next 12 months.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will use this period to review and consider options. When the football calendar and the wider delays to the construction and supply chain industries begin to plateau, we will provide further updates.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand this is disappointing for many, as it is for us, but would like to thank all our key stakeholders, including local neighbors in Anfield, our supporters, the City Council and others for their great cooperation in the pre-planning stages.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur priority remains on the health and well-being of our people, the local community and supporters at this challenging time. Our thoughts are with all those affected by Covid-19.\u201d<\/p>\n