Merseyside Civic Society visit Hill Dickinson Stadium to see how development preserves Liverpool heritage

Members of Merseyside Civic Society were given a special behind-the-scenes tour of Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Society were influential supporters of both the Club and Liverpool City Council during the early planning stages, making a strong case that conservation and development could work in tandem along the North Docks.

Their backing was an important factor in enabling the careful redevelopment of the area – with Hill Dickinson Stadium now standing as a major new asset for the city and a catalyst for more than £650m of accelerated regeneration, directly benefiting the wider Liverpool Waters and Ten Streets schemes.

Since 1938, Merseyside Civic Society has had a mission to “preserve the best of the past… as well as supporting design quality for the future”, taking a “concerned interest in sustainable development and regeneration” across the Liverpool City Region.

Hill Dickinson Stadium, with its restored heritage fabric and new public realm, offered the group a live example of those principles in action.

During their visit, members were given a presentation outlining the stadium’s social, economic and environmental benefits, and how £55m had been spent to ensure the dockland heritage is embedded into the design, including:  

• The refurbishment and restoration of the Grade II listed Hydraulic Tower, which will provide a striking multi-use space in the years ahead.
• Preservation of the historic dock basin underneath the stadium. Should the football club ever move again in the distant future, the site could be reverse-engineered back into a dock.
• Maintaining the water channel to retain the integrity of inter-connecting docks
• Reinstating the original railway lines as a key feature of the Budweiser Plaza public realm.
• Original cobbles, capstans and mooring posts carefully reinstated and woven into the landscape, ensuring the site’s maritime past is visible and accessible to visitors.
• Re-use of 99% of materials from on-site demolitions and works – including warehouse structures, concrete and brick – as part of one of the most sustainable stadium builds in Europe.

A VIP tour followed, taking in key areas of architectural and historic interest. The group visited the players’ tunnel and dressing rooms to learn about how the Club’s history and future has played a major part in the branding of those areas, as well as some of the heritage-led features around the site, before making their way to the South Stand upper concourse, where they were able to enjoy a panoramic view of the waterfront and the early phases of work now underway on the Liverpool Waters development.

Dr John Belcham, Chair of the Merseyside Civic Society, said:

“We have been pleased to support Everton’s proposals during the planning stage in various consultations.

“In July 2019, we visited Bramley-Moore Dock before work started to look at the heritage assets on the site.

“We were therefore delighted to return to see the finished Hill Dickinson Stadium and the progress being made towards the fulfilment of these ambitions.”

The visit provided an opportunity to reflect on how early advocacy for a sensitive, design-led approach to the North Docks has translated into a real, functioning venue that honours the area’s industrial heritage, while supporting its future as a vibrant destination for sport, culture and events.

Dr Belcham added:

“This visit meant a lot to our members. It was interesting, informative, and inspiring, at every level.

“It’s such a positive move for the North Liverpool area and it is good to see that Everton recognises the part it has to play in regeneration and preserving the best of our heritage.”

Everton will continue to work with civic and heritage partners, such as Merseyside Civic Society, as Hill Dickinson Stadium and the surrounding neighbourhood evolve over the coming years.

Find out more about Hill Dickinson Stadium here.

Find all the latest Everton FC news here.

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