Everton Stadium Plans Face Threat - 25/11/2007

Tesco could face a Competition Commission battle over plans for a £400m development with Everton on Merseyside. A property company is threatening to refer Tesco to the competition authorities after accusing the supermarket chain, run by lifelong Everton fan Sir Terry Leahy, of 'abusing' the planning process. Tesco wants to build a superstore next to the site of the new Everton stadium on the edge of Kirkby, which has a population of only 42,500. Development Securities claims that the project will almost certainly kill off the town centre in Kirkby, which the company is hoping to rejuvenate. Knowsley Council has told local resident groups that the superstore and the new football stadium have to come hand-in-hand.