Lansbury Retail acquired the land as long ago as August 2002 with a view to the area being the long-term location of Southend United Football Club after the sale of Roots Hall. However, the building of the football ground was dependant on the DIY warehouse getting the go-ahead for Phase One of the project. Southend Borough Council considered the plans in December of that year and resolved to approve, but the Government stalled the move when they called a public enquiry after local action group ‘Karers’ complained of the situation.
The enquiry was finally held in January of this year, and the result was forthcoming yesterday, with the B&Q development getting the go-ahead. This now means that Southend can submit their own plans for the region, a process that director Ron Martin estimates will take around six months.
Martin is confident that the Shrimpers will get the all-clear from the Council for the development now that a precedent has been set, and the results of that should be known around Christmas time. That would hand Blues between twelve and twenty-four months to get the as yet unnamed ground ready for the club’s centenary celebrations in 2006.
Robert Craven
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