Everton's new owners want to develop a major project next to the new stadium
News
In this aerial view fans arrive for the first ever game, a test match, at Bramley Moore Dock, the new home of Everton Football Club on February 17, 2025 in Liverpool, England
Everton's new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock(Image: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Everton's plans to buy land next to the club's new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium could bring about change for plans to transform a historic Liverpool dock. Last week, the ECHO reported that the Toffees' interim chief executive Colin Chong told delegates at the MIPIM property conference in Cannes, France, that the club wish to buy the Nelson Dock land that lies next to their new 52,888-capacity home, as first revealed by Place North West.
According to Place, negotiations for the club to acquire the land at Nelson Dock from current owner Peel are now underway. Mr Chong told those in attendance: "Whatever we do, we do it properly".
Article continues below
Everton wish to develop the area around the stadium with more infrastructure and enhance the matchday experience. Mr Chong explained: "There was always an idea that we might be able to develop a complementary development to support the stadium’s development.
"Our new ownership (The Friedkin Group) has tasked me with looking for a sports-led redevelopment that could be accommodated on Nelson Dock, and maybe even further if we can get the right partners to invest. We are currently going through a fact-finding mission, carrying out surveys, and hopefully we will have some information back in the next month or two."
Nelson Dock sign on Regent Road, Liverpool
Nelson Dock sign on Regent Road, Liverpool(Image: Liverpool Echo)
About the site next to the new stadium, which will become the Toffees' home from the start of next season, Mr Chong said: "Our owners are very keen to secure Nelson Dock because they believe they’ll do something good with it regardless – that’s their mindset, which is a breath of fresh air.
"If I was given a wish list, that would be on the top of it, secure Nelson Dock and protect the asset that we’ve just developed."
He added: "We’re in a very unique position, there’s over £750m of investment already, and that’s probably the hardest part about sports-led regeneration."
What could this mean for Nelson Dock?
A CGI showing the revised plan for Liverpool Waters
A CGI showing the revised plan for Liverpool Waters(Image: Peel Waters)
Nelson Dock was designed by Jesse Hartley - the man behind the Albert Dock and many others in the city - and opened in 1848. Like Everton's stadium, it forms part of Liverpool Waters - a long-term regeneration project from Peel to transform the city's post-industrial northern docklands.
The 60-hectare scheme stretches from Princes Dock on the edge of the city centre to the new stadium at Bramley-Moore. Both Bramley-Moore Dock and Nelson Dock form part of the Northern Docks neighbourhood - one of the five which make up Liverpool Waters.
The original plan for Liverpool Waters was granted planning permission in 2013 - before Everton had chosen Bramley-Moore as the location for a new stadium, so a revised masterplan properly incorporating the new ground was launched last year.
The new plans include additional new spaces for visitors, as well as designing the surrounding area to complement the Blues' new home. However, the ECHO previously reported that the Northern Docks part of the scheme will include a predominantly residential neighbourhood at Nelson Dock.
After the new masterplan was unveiled last July, landscape architect Planit said: "Notable alterations have focussed on integrating the new home for Everton FC within a new neighbourhood, planned around Nelson Docks to the south of the Bramley Moore Stadium."
Additionally, a computer generated image released with the new masterplan showed what appeared to be residential blocks around Nelson Dock, with the water remaining. This is unlike Bramley-Moore, where a three month process saw the dock filled in so the club could build the ground where the water used to be.
As negotiations between Peel and Everton are in early stages and both parties are yet to reveal more information about the plans, it is unknown how a "sports-led redevelopment" mentioned by Mr Chong could influence the residential development.
The ECHO approached both Everton and Peel for comment. Both declined to do so at this stage.