Councillors from Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council voted 20-1 in favour of the £400m scheme which will see a new 50,000-capacity stadium built as well as a Tesco superstore.

Given the size of the scheme the councils planning committee is unable to grant formal consent and the plans have now been referred to the government office for the Northwest to see whether it will be called in for a public enquiry.

Liverpool, Sefton and West Lancashire councils have all officially opposed the plans.