But the plans were not given the green light by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Hazel Blears and the Government Office for the North West.

The plans for Kirkby town centre, which include new shops, restaurants, a hotel and offices, will create more than 2,300 jobs, including 350 which Tesco has earmarked for long-term unemployed people and Knowsley residents and 700 at the new Tesco store.

The development will also attract an extra 1.2 million visitors to Knowsley every year, spending an additional £13.6m (€16.2m) in the local economy, a spokeswoman Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council said in June this year.

The inquiry inspector, Wendy Burden, confirmed earlier this year the inquiry will include at least one evening meeting to provide more access to the public.

Mrs Burden will also be supported by another Inspector who will be dealing with technical highways and access issues.

Speaking in June this year, Reverend Tim Stratford, chairman of the Kirkby Residents’ Action Group who is based at St Chad’s Church near the proposed site in Kirkby town centre, said: “Kirkby has had a bad history but we have come a long way since then and this is a town that people living here like living in on the whole.

“A stadium will not contribute to stability, it will ruin stability in Kirkby.”

Mr Stratford said residents’ concerns also included pollution and congestion.

In August, Councillor Ron Round, Leader of Knowsley Council, said: “The people of Kirkby deserve a final decision on the regeneration of their town and holding the inquiry before the end of the year will bring clarity on the future of this development.”

The inquiry begins at 10am today in the Kirkby Civic Suite, Cherryfield Drive, Kirkby, in Merseyside and is expected to last at least four weeks.