SOUTHEND Council will get a £7.7million windfall if Southend United's new stadium at Fossetts Farm goes ahead.

That's the amount the club will be expected to pay in return for planning permission, newly-published council figures reveal.

The deal is part of an agreement designed to support town centre businesses and ease fears a new shopping centre by the stadium development might take business away from Southend High Street.

The Fossetts Farm development also includes a hotel, flats and a training ground and has been approved both by Southend and Rochford councils. All it awaits now is a final decision from the Government.

Southend Council leader Nigel Holdcroft said if the scheme went ahead, more than £1million would go to improve transport links for Fossetts Farm.

The remaining £6million would fund improvements to the town centre, though details of how it would be spent have yet been put forward.

Mr Holdcroft said the agreement addressed fears of councillors and regeneration company Renaissance Southend about the effect of the retail development on the town centre.

He added: "Obviously, the money is dependent both on planning permission finally being granted and the development actually going ahead. We will look at the needs of the town centre when and if the cash becomes available."

Mike Lambert, chief executive of Renaissance Southend, said the council would decide how the money was spent.

But he added: "We would like it to be spent on public realm and highway improvements and marketing and promoting the town centre."

Bill Harkness, managing director of Delamere Estates, which owns Victoria shopping centre remains concerned about the impact on the High Street.

He said: "It also adds to uncertainty about the future of the town and future investment from major retailers."