BUILDING work on the long-awaited Fossetts Farm stadium could begin at the end of 2016, it has been revealed.

New images unveiled at a public exhibition show the 21,000 seater stadium in all its glory, flanked by hundreds of modern apartments, and a tree-lined Fossetts Way for fans walking to the venue.

With real estate firm British Land on board, the club are confident its much-anticipated move to a huge site off Eastern Avenue can finally become a reality.

Mary Power, from Powerhaus Consultancy, who are the club’s planning agents, said: “We are confident because of the quality of British Land, they are a blue chip company, and one of the top five companies in the country in their field – so they would not invest in this if they didn’t think they couldn’t make it work.

“We’re aiming to get the application to development control by March, before the local elections, and if everything goes well, we could be onsite by the end of 2016.

“Build time, if everything goes well, is between 18 months to two years.”

The club, which has been planning a move to Fossetts Farm for fifteen years, got Government approval for the scheme in 2008 but plans stalled as Sainsbury’s, which was backing the club, suffered setbacks.

Last week, club chairman Ron Martin told the Echo the move will happen regardless of Roots Hall being sold.

British Land will fund the first phase of the development, which includes 35 retail units, a 12 screen Cineworld, 10 restaurants, and 240 apartments in three tower blocks.

A planning application is likely to be submitted in December.

The first phase includes three sides of the stadium, while the second phase, financed by any sale of Roots Hall, will be to construct the west stand.

A 134-bedroom hotel, which will be attached to the west stand, will have 48 rooms doubling as private viewing boxes on matchdays.

It will also contain a conference suite for more than 900 people.

A plaza outside the stadium will have a huge plasma TV, pre-match entertainment and fast food.

The club put on its plans at a public exhibition on Friday and Saturday morning.

Ms Power revealed British Land had formerly agreed to partner Southend United in the project.

However, she would not say whether the club would offer Southend Council more than the previously agreed £3.5million to offset damage to the town’s High Street from the retail complex.

She added: “That is something we will have to negotiate.

“But the retail funds the scheme and if you put more tax on the scheme it can impact on delivery.”

Echo:

SOUTHEND United boss Phil Brown hopes the Blues can follow Bolton Wanderers’ example by using a new stadium to propel them up the leagues.

Bolton Wanderers evolved from Division One club to European challengers in the upper reaches of the Premiership, thanks to the riches from their 1997 move to the Reebok stadium, when Mr Brown was assistant manager there.

And the former Hull boss, who managed the Tigers to the Premiership, said one of the main reasons he decided to drop down the leagues to manage the Blues in 2013 was their plan to move to Fossetts Farm.

Speaking at the exhibition for fans on Friday, Mr Brown said: “It means everything to the fans get to this stadium. This project is one of the main reasons why I came to this football club.

“When I joined Bolton the club was in the lower league, and when I left them they were in Europe, and part of that was down to them moving to the Reebok Stadium in 1997.

“It provides a platform for you to play football at a higher level and brings in extra revenue and fans.

“Success to me is not just one promotion, its more about going as far as you can as a club and a stadium can provide you with a platform for that.”

Mr Brown led to the Shrimpers to promotion via the playoffs last season, and the club are doing well in League One - currently sitting eighth in the table. (as of Friday 23 Oct) He pointed out the success of Bournemouth, who are in the Premier League with a ground with less capacity of Roots Hall, to show higher ranking can be achieved without having a major venue.

But he added: “You can see all this on a laptop or on a screen but I want to see it being built.

“I remember when the first sod was cut at the Reebok Stadium and the pitch was down I started to think it was really going to happen. I'm sure that's what the supporters want here and I certainly do as the manager as well.”

Veteran centre back Adam Barrett, who has made over 250 appearences for the club in two spells, added: “Since I was a little boy there's been talk of it but hopefully we're closer than we've ever been before now.

“With West Ham getting a new stadium just down the road it would be nice if had our own. It would keep the interest in the area and keep the support here too.”

CONCERNS have been raised about traffic and parking in the areas surrounding the new stadium.

Independent councillor Caroline Endersby, who represents St. Luke’s ward, where the development will lie, said residents were worried about traffic and parking.

The club has proposed 830 matchday car parking spaces in land north of Sutton Road, for the 21,000 seater venue.

She said: “There are concerns around transport links and parking from those who live in the immediate area.

“The current transport links are not sufficient, and will have to be upgraded, while there are worries over what parking will be like in neighbouring streets too.

“The retail part of it is really large too, and will no doubt affect the High Street, as well as the local economy and shops in St. Luke’s and Southchurch Road.”

It is understood under the previous Fossetts Farm plans, roads nearby were to get resident only parking during matchdays, in a scheme paid for by the club.

It is not known whether the club will propose a similar deal this time round.