New delay for Everton's Kirkby stadium proposals

They are reviewing everything that has gone into the £400m scheme, which includes a Tesco superstore and 50 shops set over 50,000 sq m of floorspace as well as a new 50,000-seater stadium for Everton.

A hotel, offices, and more than 3,500 car parking spaces are also included.

Council officials recommended the scheme be approved, despite it conflicting with planning policies, because of its huge regeneration benefits.

Developers and the council have been looking towards July 3 as the cut-off date for the GONW recommendation.

But yesterday The Daily Post learned that GONW had applied for more time to assess the matter.

A well-placed source said the move was likely to have delayed a decision being made until mid-July.

Last night, a spokesman for GONW said: "We have applied for more time to consider the application because of its size.

"That information has been sent to Knowsley council and to the developers.

"The statutory provision prevents the local authority going ahead and acting on planning permission. Inside 21 days, it is difficult to consider all the possible ramifications of an application of this scale."

The move is relatively common on planning applications of this scale, officials said.

Last night, Tesco spokesman Michael Kissman said: "We are pleased that the government office is taking the time to consider this application properly and we hope to hear a final decision soon."

Everton FC director of communications Ian Ross revealed this additional delay had come despite the club asking for the matter to be fast-tracked.

Last night, he said: "The fact they need more time is likely to be taken by both sides as a positive message.

"Those in favour will say it suits them and so would those against.

"It's almost impossible to gauge what they will do, but we don't expect it to be any longer than a week extra, although we don't know that for sure, obviously."

A Knowsley council spokesman said: "The regeneration of Kirkby town centre forms a large and complex application, but we hope to get a decision in the very near future."

First4Kirkby leader Tony Barton said he was pleased GONW was taking its time.

He said: "It clearly doesn't fit in with the Unitary Development Plan, and should go to public inquiry, so they do have a lot to think about."