A LEADING Southend councillor says “significant issues” with Southend United’s planning application to relocate to Fossetts Farm are being discussed with Blues' chairman Ron Martin.

James Courtenay, deputy leader of Southend Council, wrote to the Echo to clarify a number of points, after we published on a number of letters commenting on the hold-up.

Mr Courtenay says there is still no indication of when the application will go before councillors for consideration, but there is "ongoing liaison" with Blues. 

The plans for the multi-million-pound development include a 21,000-seat stadium on Fossetts Farm, off Eastern Avenue, as well as five residential buildings, shops, restaurants, a cinema, four full sized grass football pitches and a hotel.

Tory Mr Courtenay said the application for a new football stadium at Fossetts Farm and associated facilities including a retail park is “the single largest and most complex major application that the council has received for a number of years”.

He added: “Its impact on the borough as a whole could be quite profound and therefore needs very careful consideration.”

An Echo letter writer asked why the council was waiting and suggested the council was delaying making a decision due to other projects.

Mr Courtenay added: “That is not correct and it is very important to set the record straight on that issue.

“The council has raised a number of significant issues with the applicant that require their further consideration.

"We have a positive relationship with the applicant and are in regular and ongoing liaison with them to resolve outstanding matters relating to this application and will continue to work with them in a proactive way.

“The application will go to development control committee when it is ready to be considered, but at this stage it is not possible for the council to accurately predict when that will be as it is dependent on the resolution of the outstanding matters.”

The letter in full:

I believe it would be helpful to clarify the position on the planning application submitted by Southend United FC for Fossetts Farm, following a letter from M Allen (Weds 16th Jan, ‘Why the delay on Southend stadium?’), and recent media coverage.

The application for a new football stadium and associated facilities is the single largest and most complex major application that the council has received for a number of years. Its impact on the borough as a whole could be quite profound and therefore needs very careful consideration.

As a planning authority, it is our duty to work professionally with all applicants to seek to resolve any relevant planning issues, and ensure that an application has sufficient information and detail to enable councillors sitting on the development control committee to come to the right recommendation in the interests of the borough as a whole.

M Allen asks what are we now waiting for and suggests that we are delaying making a decision due to other projects. That is not correct and it is very important to set the record straight on that issue.

The council has raised a number of significant issues with the applicant that require their further consideration. We have a positive relationship with the applicant and are in regular and ongoing liaison with them to resolve outstanding matters relating to this application and will continue to work with them in a proactive way. The application will go to development control committee when it is ready to be considered, but at this stage it is not possible for the council to accurately predict when that will be as it is dependent on the resolution of the outstanding matters.

Cllr James Courtenay Deputy Leader, Southend Borough Council