Liverpool FC’s £50m academy plans approved

Liverpool FC’s £50m scheme to transform their Kirkby Academy has been given the green light, with chief executive Peter Moore hailing “another step on the journey in achieving our vision to bring our first-team players and young players together on one site”.The Premier League giants’ hybrid application has been approved by Knowsley Council’s planning committee. The proposal comprises a detailed application for the redevelopment of the existing academy and Eddie McArdle playing fields and an outline application for a new training centre.Liverpool FC first unveiled plans for the high-profile regeneration project in February 2017 and submitted the application in May. Liverpool FC plan to relocate their first-team training facilities from Melwood in West Derby, which has been the club’s training base since the 1950s, to playing fields north of its current academy site on land between Simonswood Lane and Moss Lane. The proposal includes the construction of a new combined training centre, the redevelopment of the existing facilities at the Academy and designs to convert the main pitch into an indoor pitch. The plans also include improvements to the community playing fields at Simonswood Lane.The plans have been drawn up by architectural practice KSS, which also designed Anfield’s new Main Stand.