New Everton stadium months behind schedule, Guardian analysis suggests

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The construction of Everton's new 52,888-seat stadium is running months behind schedule, analysis suggests. Documents filed by Everton as part of the stadium's public planning submissions - combined with the club's latest published drone footage of the construction site - indicate that the project is at least three months late, according to experts in stadium construction.

A three-month delay to the overall project would mean the new ground would not be ready for the start of the 2024-25 season, an ambition indicated by the club. The planning documents imply the stadium should be completed by July 2024, when successful test events would have to be held before the stadium can host a competitive match. Any delays will likely increase the costs of the project which the club say stand at about £760m.

The apparent hold-up is the latest in a long line of setbacks for the club, who have been seeking finance to complete the stadium for more than three years. Everton are contesting Premier League charges for alleged breaches in financial fair play regulations and have been forced to defend themselves against a series of questions over their ownership, finances and governance.

A series of construction experts who have worked on similar-sized stadium projects said the evidence suggested the project was running at least three months late.

One of the experts said: "This project is currently 10 to 12 weeks behind. Once you start getting problems, it gets worse. Steelwork is the easy stuff. The delays come in getting the building management systems to work. If you are behind now, it is unlikely that you can make it all up."

A second expert added: "I concur. I would say this is three to four months behind."

The stadium project at Bramley Moore Dock is nearing the end of week 85 of its 150-week schedule. Drawings submitted as part of the planning process illustrate that by week 75 the whole upper terrace of the east and west stands should have been in place and that the installation of the roof structure would have commenced.

An image from planning documents showing what the stadium would look like on week 75 of the build, which was 10 weeks ago. Photograph: No credit

However, the club's drone footage - released on Everton's website last weekend - showed that the upper west stand terrace was still to be completed. Meanwhile steelwork, which will allow the upper terrace on the east stand to be constructed, had yet to be installed.

When the Guardian visited the site on Thursday afternoon, steel raker beams to support the upper terrace of the east stand had just begun to appear, seemingly 10 weeks after the project's construction management plan suggests the steelwork - and accompanying terracing - should have been completed.

In written commentary accompanying the drone footage, Everton said: "… upper-tier steelwork on top of the concrete structure has led to the ongoing installation of terracing units and a retaining wall to the rear [on the west stand]. The east stand will soon begin to mirror that pattern, with the steel raker beams next to be installed ahead of the terracing. Roofing work on the west stand is due to commence in late April, or early May."

Amid a series of financial and football setbacks in the past year, Everton have clung to progress with the stadium construction to demonstrate that the board and owner are capable of delivering something positive.

skip past newsletter promotionAn aerial view of Everton's new stadium from 7 March. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

Everton have issued a series of publicity videos over recent months which detail how the stadium project is developing. The club have always said the project is on time and this week a club spokesperson told the Guardian: "The development remains on schedule in line with the projected works."

However, the repeated positive public statements appear to be contradicted by Everton's promotional videos and its own submissions to the planning process - as well as what appear to be efforts to blame any future delay on the financial fair play investigation.

Everton did not answer questions about the apparent delays revealed by the planning documents. However, a spokesperson for the club said the project remained on track.

A spokesperson for Laing O'Rourke, the company constructing the stadium, also did not answer questions about the planning documents.

He said: "Our construction team, which now comprises almost 600 people, continues to make excellent progress on the new Everton stadium. The project is on schedule and we have a good relationship with the club."

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