Everton will discover next week if their new stadium has been given the go-ahead.
A decision by Liverpool City Council’s planning department on the proposal for Bramley-Moore Dock is set to take place remotely on Tuesday, February 23.
More than £20 million has been invested by the Blues in preparing the site in the north Liverpool docks for construction on a 52,888-capacity stadium.
If approved, work on Bramley-Moore Dock could begin as early as spring or summer with a development which is expected to cost more than £500m.
In its planning report, case officer Peter Jones has recommended that the Council grant Everton’s application despite objections from heritage bodies.
Historic England, the Victorian Society and the International Council on Monuments and Sites, who act on behalf of Unesco, all voiced opposition.
However Everton have pledged to preserve the dock’s walls while Mr Jones concluded that ‘substantial public benefits far outweigh any heritage harm’.
Further support was given to the bid to leave Goodison Park by the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, who labelled the objections ‘a huge mistake’.
After the ruling, the proposal will be referred to Robert Jenrick, secretary of state for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Bramley-Moore Dock’s transformation is estimated to be worth over £1bn to the local economy and will create over 15,000 new jobs in the process.
Meanwhile it has been confirmed that Everton’s FA Cup quarter final clash with Manchester City will take place on Saturday, March 20 at 5.30pm.
BT Sport are due to broadcast the Goodison encounter live to UK audiences.