PLANS for the new Southend United stadium are now set to be discussed by the council in June - more than a year after they were submitted.

An application to build the new 21,000-seater ground at Fossetts Farm in Eastern Avenue were given to the council last April. They were expected to be scrutinised earlier this year. But it now won’t be discussed until after the May local elections.

In addition, the council is said to be awaiting the results for an updated ecology and highways report, a report has been requested by Historic England and another on what impact the retail park will on Southend’s High Street.

The planned development will include flats, shops, a multi-screen cinema and restaurants in addition to the brand new stadium and a 107-room Hilton Hotel.

The proposals have been more than ten years in the pipeline, but Southend United chairman Ron Martin has taken the latest setback in his stride.

He said: “The club appreciates and accepts that planning meetings cannot be held six weeks prior to an election - during the purdah period - and this means the earliest date for the council to consider the club’s planning application is probably now June.

“In view of this likelihood we have already accelerated the construction design in preparation for tender to ensure the club’s plans remain on programme should the council find favour with our proposals.”

Fans are also being patient. Jamie Forsyth, co-editor of All At Sea fanzine, said: “Fans have been waiting to find out the date the application will be discussed by Southend Council, but it is unsurprising that it is taking so long given the size of the application.

“This is one of the largest applications the town has ever seen, and will come with a remarkable amount of documentation which all has to be checked and analysed for council officers to be able to make up their report to councillors. Hopefully it can be discussed as soon as possible, and be approved so work can start and the club can look to the future.”

A council spokesman said: “Our development control committee should only consider planning applications once the documentation has been provided in full by the applicant and consulted upon. With regard to the stadium development, we are yet to receive some key documents. We will schedule a committee date once we are in a position to do so.”

The scheme suffered a setback in 2015 when Sainsbury’s backed out of a plan to build a superstore on the club’s current Roots Hall site.