Plans for a new 50,000-capacity stadium for Everton Football Club in Liverpool have been called in by the DCMS for a public inquiry. The £120m stadium is part of a wider £400m regeneration scheme of Kirby town centre led by Everton FC and Tesco, which also includes new retail outlets, restaurants, a hotel and office space.

However, a Everton FC spokesperson stressed that the decision "does not spell the end for the Destination Kirby Project – but it will, self-evidently, precipitate a period of reflection, assessment and re-evaluation."

The spokesperson added: "We are disappointed by the decision. Having spent more than two years working diligently on a project which would not only provide Everton FC with a new home but also regenerate Kirkby, we had hoped to avoid a government call-in.

"Indeed, it was only in June that Knowsley Borough Council’s Planning Committee voted by a majority of 20-1 to grant planning permission.

"We shall now engage in detailed discussions with our development partners, KBC and Tesco, to assess what options are open to us."

It is reported that Liverpool Council objected to the scheme due to its size and potential impact on the city.