Yes - it's in the planning approval and is part of the regeneration of the area. Retaining the pitch as green space is a specific requirement. The other elements are granted as outline approval but the general balance of provision will need to be something like that.
From the planning approval:
8.10.6 Phasing and Open Space/Public Realm
Initially the open space and public realm areas of the Plaza would be created during the first phase of the development of the site, which would take approximately twelve months following the demolition of the existing stadium, possibly with adjacent development plots being developed at the same time, subject to successful marketing in the interim period and the obtaining of reserved matters consent. Following the completion of the new pedestrian routes, the temporary routes and the peripheral areas adjacent to these routes and public spaces would be combined into a series of development sites. The scale of these new buildings would consist of a mixture of primarily 3 and 4 storey buildings which would provide a balance between providing enclosure of the Plaza and its open spaces but also protect the amenity of nearby properties. Following discussions with the Planning and Public Protection Divisional Manager the applicants have agreed to lay out the open space and public realm works in the first instance, together with an agreement to secure or temporarily landscape the development plots if development was not forthcoming in the first instance. The open space/public realm would compensate for that lost in Stanley Park and is to be designed to create greenspace and pedestrian linkages with both the Stadium Concourse and Stanley Park. The Planning and Public Protection Divisional Manager considers that the Plaza site is being developed in a manner which creates an acceptable urban design and would make a significant contribution to the regeneration of Anfield and Breckfield.
8.10.7 Development Opportunity and Regeneration
All elements of the Anfield Plaza element of the proposals, including that of the range of uses are in outline format, and should planning permission be granted it is likely that development on this site would not commence until 2009 at the earliest. In terms of the land use allocations, the contribution that the Plaza development can make towards economic regeneration, and in particular employment creation, in North Liverpool in general and Anfield/Breckfield areas in particular is relatively notional at this stage as there is no mechanism or controls to put in place to ensure the development proceeds on the scale envisaged. It is estimated that around 641 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) jobs (generating an estimated £11.68m of gross employment income) could be accommodated in the proposed development. The net additional number of FTE jobs is estimated at 368 which allows for the displacement of certain commercial and office/community related activities from Anfield/Breckfield into the new Plaza. However this would ultimately depend upon the precise nature of the development and market conditions locally.
Having said that the range of uses and facilities proposed and the scale and massing of the buildings are complementary to the role of this area as a local centre with a high residual and closely formed residential community. Prior to and through the application process the brief for Anfield Plaza has been developed and the Planning and Public Protection Divisional Manager has secured commitments from applicants to ensure that 1.6 ha open space provision and public realm works will be implemented in the first instance with a fall back position for the screening and temporary landscaping of the “development windows” identified if there is a delay in delivering these.
Whilst the stated economic benefits that may materialise from the range of uses proposed at this stage is uncertain, what is clear however is that the relocation of the stadium from its present position will remove an imposing structure, with a site area of approximately 30,000 m2, which extends close up to residential properties in Lake Street, Lothair Road, Skerries Road and Walton Breck Road. This will create opportunities for more appropriate building in terms of scale and massing in their place and will in all likelihood complement and enliven other regeneration work that is being carried out in this area.
To protect the residential amenity of adjacent occupiers and ensure that the development proceeds on the scale envisaged within the development brief, the Planning and Public Protection Divisional Manager has imposed restrictions, in the form of conditions, relating to the scale, floor areas and operating hours of the uses proposed together with a minimum provision of 1.6 hectares of open space on the site of the existing stadium.
