Communities secretary John Denham ruled the £400m scheme underpinned by a huge Tesco store would adversely affect neighbouring shopping centres and hence breach planning rules.
 
Everton had claimed the stadium move was vital to ensure top-flight status and today the club described the decision as "very,very disappointing."

The club is thought to be considering appeal via judicial review, but one planning expert said the chances of such an appeal succeeding were "somewhere below zero".