Everton stadium inquiry: New date set

She added the £400m plans, which include a new Tesco superstore and stadium for Everton FC, will not be discussed in any detail until the inquiry gets going on November 18.

But the new date follows a series of wrangles with opponents of the scheme who claim documents are being withheld from the inquiry.

The inspector is hoping to resolve the disputes between parties by getting everyone together. She hopes this will help reduce any future disruption to the inquiry.

The inquiry comes after the Department for Communities and Local Government said ministers had "thought long and hard about the case, and decided the only appropriate decision was to call it in".

The public inquiry process is expected to take around a year to complete - a delay which both the club and Knowsley Council have previously warned could kill off the scheme, because of the worsening economic climate.

The inquiry itself will last for approximately six weeks starting on November 18, 2008 - running for four weeks prior to Christmas and two weeks following.

The council and developers are remaining hopeful that a final decision on the Destination Kirkby proposals will be made by the Secretary of State early in the New Year.