Plans for Everton Football Club’s new stadium and a Tesco superstore in Kirkby, Merseyside were approved last night.

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council’s planning committee last night said it supported plans for the £400m scheme which will see the development of a 50,000 seat stadium and the Tesco superstore.

Given the size of the scheme the planning committee is unable to grant formal consent and the plans have now been referred to the government office for the Northwest to see whether it will be called in for a public enquiry.

Neighbouring councils, including Liverpool City Council have opposed the development, but supporters have said that is it is vital for the regeneration of the town which is located nine miles from Liverpool.

The decision to approve the scheme follows the decision by Development Securities in April to sell its £65m retail property holdings in Kirkby and withdraw from the battle with Tesco to regenerate the Town Centre.

DevSecs planned a rival £200m plan for the site north of Cherryfield Drive featuring a retail-led scheme anchored by ASDA and a civic quarter.

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