Liverpool City Council has given the go-ahead for a 60,000-capacity football stadium for Liverpool Football Club (LFC).

The decision means that LFC is step closer to its ambitions to move out of its existing stadium at Anfield Road, which has been the club’s home for the duration of its 112-year existence.

After considering two separate planning applications for the area, the council opted to approve and integrate both plans which will kick-start a major regeneration programme in the area.

The first application, submitted by LFC back in October 2003, outlined plans for a new stadium at Stanley Park as well as plans for the Anfield Road site.

According to the proposals, the old stadium will be replaced by a mixed-use development which will include a hotel, bars, restaurants, community space and offices.

The second application proposed the relocation and restoration of the Monkey House bandstand and the bowling green pavilion adjacent to the proposed stadium site.

Liverpool council leader, Mike Storey, said: “As a result of this decision, I’m hopeful that we will now be able to push on with the regeneration of Anfield and Breckfield – areas where redevelopment is long overdue.”

Rick Parry, LFC chief executive, said: “This decision is reward for six years of hard work in consultancy with both the local community and the city.

“The message from the local community has been that the continuing uncertainty around the stadium, the area and the park was not good for anyone and could not continue.”

A final decision will now be made by the office of the deputy prime minister and is expected within the next month. Details: www.liverpoolfc.tv