Plans submitted for Southend’s £25m stadium

Plans for Southend United’s new 22,000-seat stadium at Fossetts Farm, estimated to cost upwards of £25m, have been submitted to the local council.

Last season, the club was promoted to the Championship and said that the 11,000-capacity Roots Hall – Southend’s current home – would leave it with the second or third lowest attendance in the league.

Ron Martin, chair of the Blues, said: “We believe this development will put Southend on the map. It will improve our profile enormously and is something that the town should be proud of.”

The scheme – which also features a 114-bedroom hotel and conference facilities and three pub-style supporters’ bars – would be funded by the sale of Roots Hall and other fundraising activities. Roots Hall is likely to be developed for housing and a superstore.

The club has also acquired 22 acres of land in nearby Rochford for a new training ground, for which a planning proposal will also have to be submitted in the next few weeks.

If the plans get the go ahead, it is expected that the new stadium would be ready for the 2008/9 season. Details: www.southendunited.premiumtv.co.uk