THE firm behind Southend United’s new stadium and 1,400 homes has bought land from a secondary school for more than £1.1million. 

Loxford Schools Trust, which runs Cecil Jones Academy in Eastern Avenue, has sold an “unused playing field” to Thames Plaza, according to information released by the Government.

Thames Plaza is the company behind the Fossetts Farm development, alongside Roots Hall Limited. 

The development will see a new football stadium built for the club, as well as a new training ground and new homes. 

Ron Martin, chairman of the Blues, was previously director of the company before he resigned. His son, Jack Martin, is now the director. 

The land is close to the club’s new training ground - to the north of the development site. 

It was sold for £1.167 million last year after consent was given by the Department for Education.

The money is set to go towards improving sports facilities at Cecil Jones Academy.

The document, published on gov.uk,  states: “The disposal of the trust’s freehold interest in an unused detached playing field and car park held for Cecil Jones Academy.

“The land will be sold to Thames Plaza as part of a major regeneration scheme in Southend.

“The capital receipt will be used to improve sports facilities on the school’s main site, providing a new 3G pitch with floodlighting (subject to planning consent), resurfacing four tennis courts and creating a new 60m sprint running track.”

The document states it was approved in 2022, with Loxford Schools Trust financial statements for the year ended August 2022, reflecting this.

It read: “The freehold property disposal was in respect of land used as playing fields at Cecil Jones Academy site which was sold for £1,167,500 after obtaining consent from the Department for Education.”

The unused playing field sold to Thames Plaza is reportedly by the proposed Fossetts Farm development.

Slimmed down version of the plans for Southend United’s new stadium were submitted to the council. The planned number of seats were slashed from 22,000 to 16,226. 

Ron Martin and Loxford Schools Trust has been contacted for comment by the Echo.