Laing O’Rourke has officially handed the Everton FC’s new stadium over to the football club, after three and a half years’ construction work.
The contractor’s project director Gareth Jacques was joined by Everton’s executive chairman Marc Watts and interim chief executive Colin Chong during a ceremony to mark completion of the contractor’s main work.
Everton will now oversee the six-month fit-out of the venue in time for the first match at the 53,000-capacity facility at the start of the 2025/26 season.
Project director Gareth Jacques said: “This is a momentous day for my team, for Laing O’Rourke, for our supply chain, all the design consultants and everyone involved with the project.
“We’ve spent 178 weeks on site, and a year-and-half before that in pre-construction and planning.
“All those people, everyone from Everton and all the fans who have been ardently watching the progress have all been a big part of this, so to deliver it, as we have, on time, is phenomenal.
“The team has taken an old disused dock and created what is, I believe, the best stadium in this country, so I couldn’t be prouder.”
In contrast to erroneous reports in the national and local press, the construction schedule has remained on track throughout Laing O’Rourke’s tenure at the site.
The price of the job did, however, rise from £500m to £550m due to the impact of surging materials prices in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Chong said: “Our thanks go to Laing O’Rourke, their workforce and extensive supply chain, along with the many people who have helped bring our vision to fruition.
“Construction has not been without its challenges, but we have remained on schedule despite a worldwide pandemic and a war in Ukraine, which threatened to affect the delivery of materials and destabilised financial markets.
The stadium development is set to catalyse regeneration directly benefiting the nearby Ten Streets development.
In coming months, Laing O’Rourke will retain a small presence at Everton Stadium to ensure the new building meets quality requirements and specifications.
Read the story of how Laing O’Rourke filled in a disused dock to build Everton’s new stadium.
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Colin Marrs