Everton are set to apply for planning permission to build a new multi-purpose building at Goodison Park. The main feature of the new building will be a 10,000 sq. ft retail store, the existing store 'Everton One' is 3,500 sq. ft. The new store is expected to be fitted out by the Manchester-based Maxim Creative Group who have previously rebranded Everton's existing retail outlets.

The building will also house a museum, cafe, EvertonTV studio, hospitality lounges for corporate sponsors and office space for the administration staff. The proposed building has been designed by FormRoom Architects.

The statue of pre-war goalscoring hero William Ralph 'Dixie' Dean will be re-sited outside the new building's entrance on the corner of Walton Lane and Goodison Road.

It's remains unclear how Everton are paying for the development. The club's Chief Executive Officer Robert Elstone told shareholders that the "new scheme is totally self-funded by partners".

One possible source of financing is that Everton will borrow money from a bank secured against future income from retail partners Kitbag and catering and hospitality partners Sodexo. The £30m Kitbag deal ends in 2019 and the current Sodexo contract expires in 2011. Should the proposals come to fruition, the improved hospitality facilities will enable Everton to negotiate more favourable terms with Sodexo (and therefore paying bank repayments for the new facility?).

If all goes well, the building will be operational July 2011 - a few weeks before Everton's Community Shield victory!