Southend United’s Long-Awaited Football Stadium Plan To Be Reviewed

A plan for a new 22,000-seater stadium for Southend United, which was first submitted four years ago, will be heard by the council at the end of the month.

Carole Mulroney, Cabinet Member for Environment, Culture, Tourism & Planning from Southend Borough Council, said she is expecting a large turnout at the meeting on 25th October.

The authority's development control committee will review the application. As part of the development, 1,450 homes will be built. The Local Democracy Reporting Service said that plans include a partnership between the council and developers to build 800 of these homes at the new stadium, at Fossetts Farm, which will be let for affordable rents.

Once the football club has relocated, their current stadium at Roots Hall will also be redeveloped into 502 new homes for rent.

Ms Mulroney said: "The council chamber is the biggest space we have got.

"The public gallery runs around the top but if we get inundated with people there will be difficulties.

"In normal circumstances, planning applications bore everyone to death but this is such a big one for the town."

Their fans are unhappy with chairman Ron Martin's running of the club, following their relegation to the National League for the first time in over a century.

The council said no banners or demonstrations would be allowed within the civic centre. The Shrimpers’ supporters chanted and brandished banners, temporarily halting last Tuesday's game against Eastleigh, before invading the pitch after full-time. After leaving the directors box to speak to the club's travelling supporters, Mr Martin was confronted by fans during Southend's defeat at Solihull Moors, before security escorted him away.

Ms Mulroney added: "People are disgruntled about how the club is doing at the moment but I would hope that doesn't cause problems.

"The process has to go through committee and we can't defer it because we have a crowd of angry people."

Photo Credit: Southend United F.C.