The Premier League club and the Liverpool City Council, however, are looking at two other potential brownfield sites within the city boundary. 

The decision to scrap the proposed development at Walton Hall Park was due to the scheme relying too heavily on retail investment, which was found to be difficult to attract for an out-of-town development.

Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, said both the club and council concluded that building a new village in north Liverpool in the current economic climate was a step too far.

“Most people will be aware that I did give a commitment to Everton to support a potential scheme at Walton Hall Park with the aim of regenerating the area and creating new jobs.

“On the subject of the park itself, I can now say that the park will remain a park and will be designated as such in our Local Plan, which will be out for consultation this summer.”

Robert Elstone, Chief Executive of Everton FC, added: “Our work with the council, particularly over the past few months, has been positive and progressive and while our work evaluating the alternatives is at an early stage, we are hopeful that the new sites provide us with a much more straightforward, deliverable opportunity to build a new stadium.”

Everton’s current stadium Goodison Park currently has a capacity of 39,571 and was built in 1892.