A major plan to move when Liverpool FC can hold concerts during the off-season is going before the city council for the third time. Between August and June, Walton Breck Road and the surrounding areas are a hive of activity as the Reds play out their domestic and European fixtures in search of silverware.
Since 2019, the 61,000-seater stadium has turned into the home of global music megastars in June after the final whistle has blown on the domestic season. For the past seven years, Anfield has hosted the likes of Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Elton John, and the Rolling Stones.
Current rules mean that there must be a 31-day window in July when no events – footballing or otherwise – can take place to allow residents respite. Next week, Liverpool Council may allow this to change at the third time of asking.
The club needs a licence to stage major events outside of football matches, which controls the sale of alcohol, how much noise is permitted and timings. As a result, Liverpool Council has granted permission for the stadium to be used no more than six times.
This was granted in 2018 for a period of two years, then extended for a further five seasons in 2021. In total, 21 gigs have been held in the last seven years, with expectations of further shows in June 2027 and 2028.
In June, the club asked the local authority to change the arrangement to allow more flexibility to secure more events. During the first hearing of the plans by Liverpool Council’s planning committee, Mark Worcester, planning agent on behalf of the football club, said that feedback had been received from concert promoters that there was “major demand” for venues in July.
He added that under the current rules, “a global act was unable to play at Anfield, resulting in lost revenue to the city”. Mr Worcester said, “Anfield is a popular choice for major global artists, some of whom do not perform at any other venue in the north of the country.”
In 2024, a bid was lodged to completely remove the restrictions in place for July. An amendment was reached to reflect the current application, which now protects the 31-day window, but adds a degree of flexibility which would allow the club to stage events in July.
Liverpool crowned global City of Innovation
Robin Morrissey returns to the Playhouse for The Haunting of Hill House
The proposed change would likely impact when home matches would be played at the start of the Premier League season. The plans have been recommended for approval when the local authority’s planning committee meets next week.
A move to permanently close a portion of the road surrounding the stadium will not form part of the application, however. It was revealed on Monday that the local authority brought in a temporary road closure, officially shutting the road.
The notice says it will be in operation from 9 October to 19 November and will be followed up in due course with a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order that is due to end in May 2028. Liverpool FC is keen to stress that this was a decision made by the council’s highways department and was not a decision in the gift of the club or made by the club.
The planning documents added, “Issues relating to the closure of the replacement Anfield Road route have been considered but are not material to the determination of this application. The route is currently closed under separate highway powers and the proposal does not seek to amend the existing legal agreement requirements relating to that route.”
Image: https://depositphotos.com/
Why not follow Birkenhead News onFacebook, Bluesky, WhatsApp, Twitter, and Threads. You can also send story ideas or letters to the editor tonews@birkenhead.news