This project will be a major catalyst to the Wirral Waters programme and will support economic, employment and visitor objectives in relation to the Liverpool City Region. The centrepiece will be a new 15,000 stadium for Tranmere Rovers Football Club alongside other leisure related activities. The total project cost is estimated at approximately £100m.

Resolved – That

(1)  the Sports City Project in principle, as outlined in paragraphs 3.7 to 3.8 of the report be supported.

(2)  delegated authority be given to the Director of Regeneration and Place to:

(a) accept a grant of £100,000 from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as referred to in paragraph 4.1 of the report; and

(b) award a contract for a feasibility study into the Sports City Project, within the approved budget and to the highest scoring tenderer and in accordance with the Most Economically Advantageous Tender criteria.

The proposals within this report will enable a feasibility study to be carried out to enable progress with the regeneration opportunity to be assessed. If the project were able to proceed it would not only help to safeguard the future of Tranmere Rovers FC as an important “community asset” but also to contribute to enhanced health and leisure provision as well as increased employment and long-term economic growth. The project is also seen as a catalyst for the whole Left Bank regeneration scheme and especially Wirral Waters.

The Council could decide to do nothing with this opportunity but then the benefits set out in this report would not be achieved, and the site at Bidston Dock is likely to remain undeveloped for a number of years.

The Council could seek to identify another project lead but there is currently no other organisation that has the ability to draw the various parties together and to take this opportunity forward.