Fossetts Farm Stadium

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Fossetts Farm Stadium
Location Southend-on-Sea
Opened 2010 (planned)
Owner Southend United
Operator Southend United
Construction cost £50 million
Architect HOK Sport
Tenants Southend United F.C.
Capacity c. 22,000

Fossetts Farm Stadium is the provisional name for a stadium proposed to be built in Southend-on-Sea as a new home for Southend United F.C. to replace Roots Hall Stadium. The name may change if sponsorship for the stadium is secured.

On 7 May 2006 Southend United chairman Ron Martin revealed that the much-awaited multi-million pound stadium at Fossetts Farm is likely to go ahead after prolonged discussions over the ownership of the football club resulted in the property developer becoming the sole owner of the Shrimpers.[1] He added that a detailed planning application for the 22,000 all-seater stadium would be submitted to the local authorities "in the next three of four months" with the aim to move into the new home for the start of the 2008/09 season.[2] Martin has always maintained that the club must move from its antiquated current home in order to survive; Southend United sold Roots Hall in 1999 and have been in danger of becoming homeless. He also claimed that his full ownership of Southend United now makes such a move more of a reality. However, fans could be forgiven for welcoming his statement with some scepticism. The Fossetts Farm saga has dragged on for nearly a decade and the club has come no closer to moving to a new home.

Billericay-based property development company Martin Dawn took control of Southend United in November 1998 with chairman and chief executive Ron Martin claiming that his company "is committed to a successful football club on and off the field, both of which can be enhanced by the future possibility of a new stadium and improved facilities for all."[3] In March 1999 Southend United's Roots Hall ground was sold for £4 million to Martin Dawn subsidiary Roots Hall Limited to clear a £3.87 million debt; the club would lease back the ground at an annual rent of £400,000. Chairman John Main was quick to calm the nerves of worried fans: "There is no question of Roots Hall being bulldozed to the ground before we have relocated to a new stadium - this club will not be homeless."[4] But disgruntled shareholders demanded the resignations of several members of the board at an EGM called to rubber-stamp the sale, claiming that they should stand down for allowing the club to slip so dangerously into the red and forcing the sale of the club's only real asset. "These board members should be made to resign after displaying their utter incompetence by allowing the company to trade in an insolvent situation," exclaimed one annoyed shareholder.[5]

In September 1999 Southend United announced that plans for a new multi-million pound stadium would be presented to council chiefs within weeks with Chairman John Main confident that the club would be given permission to start construction early in the new millennium. "The council have been very supportive and we hope that the planning application passes through successfully", said Main. "If it does we can look forward to moving into a new state-of-the-art home within the next few years."[6]

Plans for the new 15,000 seater stadium on the Boots & Laces training ground location were put on hold in February 2000 after it was discovered that an ancient 14-acre Bronze Age burial ground entered onto the planned site.[7] By March 2000 supporter frustration grew as the club continued to fail to meet promised planning application submission dates. The Southend United Supporters Club Trust (SUSCT) observed that the club was running out of time. "We're no nearer to getting a new home now than we were 12 months ago, which is very worrying because we are running out of time fast," said chairman Trevor Bashford.[8] Members of Southend Council were equally eager to see some progress. In late May 2000 Council Chief Executive George Krawiec threw his weight behind the proposals but admitted that he would like to see some progress made on the planning front. "We await both eagerly and anxiously Southend United's planning application so we can look at it properly within the correct guidelines," said Krawiec.[9]

The plans which were eventually submitted in July 2000 for a £12.5 million 16,000 seater stadium on the Fossets Farm site[10] but the proposal fell through almost immediately after a rival property development company revealed that it actually owned much of the site. All the waiting and anticipation could have been for nothing when Southend United came to the brink to extinction after a £400,000 demand from the Inland Revenue went unpaid. Boardroom turmoil saw chairman John Main removed in return for principal benefactor Delancey Estates settling the debt.[11]

In September 2001 it was claimed that Southend United would remain at Roots Hall after a deal was proposed between property developers Lansbury and Delancey, a joint major share-holder in the football club.[12] There was also a growing support for a residents' group opposed to plans, claimed the local media. The emergence of the KARERS smashed a further dent in the aspirations of the football club, with spokesman Peter Bliss announcing that it wanted to preserve what it saw as a "crucial piece of land" in the borough and prevent traffic chaos every time Southend United play a home match.[13] Southend fans moved to counter the protest with a campaign of their own. "Residents living near Fossetts Farm have gathered around 1,800 signatures against the stadium. But we should be able to beat that figure easily," said the campaign spokesman. "If all the Southend fans club together, including the people who don't always attend games, we should be able to collect around 10,000 names. This development is not just for the benefit of football fans, but for everybody living in Southend."[14]

Good news reached the ears of supporters in mid-December 2000 when Ron Martin announced that he expected the planning application for a new stadium to finally be considered by the town council In February 2001. Speaking to shareholders at the club's AGM, Martin said that the proposal for a 16,000 capacity ground should go before the planning committee on February 7 2001 and that he was "confident" that both the football club and local authority were on the same wavelength.[15] The relative joy was short-lived. Barely four weeks later local media revealed that there were problems with the content of the plan for a 16,000 all-seater stadium and other leisure facilities on the 80-acre site at Eastern Avenue which could cause yet another delay and that, contrary to Martin's claim at the AGM, the plans were never intended to go to committee in February. "We do not consider there is adequate information to put to members," claimed a council spokeswoman.[16] In early March 2001 protesters against the development rallied at the civic centre as the plans were considered by the council's Development Control Committee; the KARERS were countered by a delegation from the club's supporters club trust. "We understand the concerns of local residents but the football club is very important to the local community and economy," said a Trust spokesman.[17] The council decided to defer the decision for a further three months but agreed that a decision had to made by then. "This application has been with us for some time and we must not as a council allow this application to cast a further shadow," said Councillor Roger Weaver (CON). "To prevent this hanging over the council anymore, can we ask that officers come back within three months time with a yea or nay recommendation."[18] As the future of the club looked decidedly shaky, fans set up an action group 'Save Our Southend' to prevent their club from becoming homeless or even extinct. "We want our football team's future to be protected in the borough of Southend," said SOS spokesman Trevor Bashford.[19] Even legendary boss David Webb voiced his concerns for the club: "I'm still very sceptical about what will happen to the club if the stadium doesn't come off."[20] As the club's owners worked furiously to make the required revisions to the plans, their efforts were further excacebated when local traders claimed that the proposed Fossetts Farm development would actually threaten the future of the town centre and seafront. We have no objection to the football stadium development itself. When I was 11 I used to be a ball boy for Southend and I'm a supporter," said John Barber, chairman of Southend Seafront Illuminations and Business Association. "But as far as the objection to the development is concerned we have to object to it because it's not just about the stadium - it's about a total duplication of what we are all about on the seafront."[21]

The summer of 2001 was certainly not a happy one for fans of the Shrimpers. In June the club pulled out of the planning meeting which was scheduled to make a decision on the Fossetts Farm proposal, citing that it "needed more time to assess the content of its project".[22] Ron Martin wouldn't confirm when the revamped plans would be submitted to the council. A few days later SEL UK, the club's joint owner, declared that they wanted to sell the club: "The directors are currently seeking to sell the company's interest in Southend United" stated the auditors' report, causing further concern for fans of the club. Ron Martin moved to re-assure that the joint owners of Martin Dawn and Delancey were not about to cut and run: ""The position is quite clear - Martin Dawn and Delancey are only interested in the longevity of Southend United."[23] In August former chairman John Main, ousted after a bitter boardroom struggle in 2000, warned fans that the proposal was not "financially viable" and that "there will be no stadium at Fossetts Farm and the future of the football club remains at Roots Hall."[24]

Finally the inevitable happened. On 26 September 2001 Ron Martin admitted that plans for a new stadium at Fossetts Farm had stalled after Lansbury, the company that owned most of the land earmarked for the stadium at Fossetts Farm announced that it was not prepared to sell the land. "We need to come to some form of agreement with Lansbury before we can make progress because it owns most of Fossetts Farm," admitted Ron Martin.[25] Lansbury responded by claiming that the plans had actually been shelved months prior to the announcement and accused Ron Martin of misleading the fans. "Until now we have remained publicly silent but Mr Martin's continual misrepresentation of what is happening must be commented upon," said a spokesman. He then went on to claim that the future of Southend United lay at Roots Hall, not Fossetts Farm "which has been the case since last May." Ron Martin counteracted with a short statement: "All I can say is that this simply isn't true."[26]

In January 2002 Ron Martin vowed to reveal fresh plans for a new stadium for Southend United and revealed that informal talks had started with Southend Council to find a site for the club. "We hope we will be able to make a statement on the situation within a few weeks," he told local media.[27] A day later Lansbury revealed ambitious plans to create 250 jobs at a B&Q warehouse development on Fossetts Farm: "We have put forward a detailed planning application for a new B and Q warehouse," said a spokesman. "The proposal is for land to the front of Fossetts Farm which recently received retail planning consent on appeal to the Environment Secretary."[28] A couple of weeks later, local media speculated that a new home for the football club could be built close to the Tesco superstore in Prince Avenue.[29] Continued warnings that Southend United needed to secure a new home to survive continued just a few days later when co-owner Martin claimed that such a move is the key to the club's future after new figures showed that while losses made by the club had been slashed, a large amount of those losses were taken by rent paid on the Roots Hall ground.[30]

In July 2002 it was claimed that the stadium proposal of Fossetts Farm was unlikely to go ahead if Southend Council backed plans for a new B&Q superstore on the site. Martin claimed that approval for the plans, submitted by Lansbury, would make it impractical to accommodate a new stadium for the football club. "After the council has made a decision on B&Q's application, then we may well be in a position to say more," he told local media.[31] Silence descended once more but with Southend's lease on Roots Hall due to end in March 2003, fans were rightfully concerned over the immediate future of the football club at Roots Hall. Eventually the club were forced to make a statement with Ron Martin claiming that the lease will be extended. "The lease runs out in four months time, but I have no doubt in my mind it will be extended," he told local media in late November 2002. "A lot of negativity has accompanied the length of the lease over the past three years, but as usual it has been unfounded. We are still actively working to move to a new ground and Southend United will never be homeless."[32]

In December 2002 the local media revealed that councillors had suggested that a new £56 million hospital unit could be built on the Fossetts Farm site although vice-chairman Geoffrey King poured scorn on the idea. "I can't get excited by this news," he told the press. "I can't see it happening."[33] Just a few hours later Ron Martin confirmed that Southend United would remain at Roots Hall for another three years after the club signed an extension to the lease which was to expire in March 2003. He also announced that plans to re-locate to Fossetts Farm were back on track after a deal had been struck with Lansbury, who owned 80% of the site, a deal that appeared to include the construction of a massive B&Q warehouse on the site after all. "This is outstanding news for the football club and gives Southend United the chance to look forward to a bright future."[34]

On December 12, 2002 councillors sitting on Southend Council's Development Control Committee threw overwhelming support behind the proposed B&Q development, voting 12/2 in favour, and future of Southend United looked a little more brighter, although the proposals would have to go before Deputy PM John Prescott because of its status as an 'out-of-town development'.[35] On November 6, 2003 Southend Hospital revealed that it had indeed chosen Fossetts Farm as the site for a proposed £100 million expansion of services; Southend United claimed that the proposal would not affect their plans.[36] On May 3, 2004 Ron Martin claimed it was "all systems go" for the new stadium after the positive income of the B&Q Fossetts Farm inquiry and expected plans for a new stadium complex to be submitted during the summer of 2004. "We're delighted," said Martin. "It's a massive boost for us and I feel this new stadium complex will bring further success to Southend United."[37]

However nothing much happened until November 2004 when it was revealed that 20 acres of land north of the Boots & Laces training ground and close to the Fossetts Farm area had been secured. "I don't want people to think we are standing still on this," claimed Martin.[38]

But it was a familiar story to fans when they picked up copies of the local media one evening in September 2005. "Stadium Plan in Limbo," was the headline with joint shareholder Colin Wagman of Delancey claiming that ""I think [the relocation is] very difficult to commercially achieve and I don't think it's the most likely scenario." Ron Martin confirmed that hopes of leaving Roots Hall for a new site at Fossetts Farm had stagnated.[39] However a couple of months later Martin revealed that he was looking to take complete control of Southend United, a move that would help him push ahead with his dream of a new stadium on Fossetts Farm.[40] On 6 March 2006 Ron Martin became sole owner of the club and vowed to press ahead with the relocation plans.

On 3 August 2006 local media reported that work was to start in 2007 on a £25 million 22,000 superstadium on the site at Fossetts Farm. Martin exclaimed that "plans are at an advanced stage now!"[41] and added that they would be submitted in late September 2006 after which there will be a 16-week public consultation. The new ground would be designed by HOK Sport, the company which built Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium and Sydney's Telstra Stadium, which hosted the 2000 Olympics. Ominously, they have also been involved in the building of the new Wembley Stadium. Martin also hinted that the new stadium would probably attract sponsorship from a local company, revealing that Coventry City get £1 million a year from Ricoh in return for naming their new ground the Ricoh Arena.

Planning Application 06/01021/RSO - Relocation of Southend United Football Club / Hotel, Residential and Retail Development.[42]

On 2 October 2006 plans were finally submitted for a 22,000 all-seater stadium to be built on the Fossetts Farm site to the north of the town. Designed by architects HOK, the stadium proposal incorporates both a 114-bedroom hotel and conference facilities along with a retail development project. There are also plans for the relocation of the club's training facilities from Boots & Laces to the new site, freeing up land on which retail plots can be developed to fund the relocation project and the club in the future.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council passed the application at the end of January 2007, with Rochford District Council following suit just 24 hours later. The application was subsequently delivered to Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, for state approval, a procedure that many hoped would be a mere formality and that Southend would be playing their first game in the new stadium early in the 2008/09 season. However, after a lengthy delay, Kelly "called in" the application for further review in early April 2007, a move that would not only considerably delay the project but might result in permission not being granted at all.

On March 6th 2008, after years of frustration for the Southend faithful, Fossetts Farm was given the green light by the Government. The club hope to move in at the start of the 2010/11 season.

Or so it seemed, the saga continues still "SOUTHEND United's plans for a new football stadium at Fossetts Farm may not get the final seal of approval until July, amid concerns raised by traders.

A Government planning inspector yesterday announced a decision on the 22,000-seater football stadium, which includes flats and retail units, would not be announced before July 7.

The inspector had been due to announce a decision on May 27, but said the extra time was needed to consider a number of concerns which had been raised by those affected by the plans." - Source Evening Echo

It is hoped once final approval is given, building work can start on the £50million stadium by the summer. The club hope it will be open in time for the 2010 season.

The proposals include a 114-bedroom hotel, conference area, a players' hostel, food and drink concessions and bars. All facilities would be contained within the stadium and a restaurant and health club.


[edit] References

  1. ^ Ron's Blues buy-up. This Is Essex (6 Mar 2006). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  2. ^ New soccer stadium will hold 17,000. This Is Essex (7 Mar 2006). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  3. ^ New dawn for Southend. This Is Essex (20 Nov 1998). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  4. ^ Southend to sell Roots Hall. This Is Essex (11 Mar 1999). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  5. ^ Board under fire at Southend. This Is Essex (25 Mar 1999). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  6. ^ Southend stadium plans looming. This Is Essex (14 Sep 1999). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  7. ^ Ancient graves delay new Southend stadium. This Is Essex (8 Feb 2000). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  8. ^ Supporters want answers on Blues' new stadium. This Is Essex (9 Mar 2000). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  9. ^ Southend stadium will be a flagship. This Is Essex (22 May 2000). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  10. ^ Southend stadium plans submitted at last. This Is Essex (10 Jul 2000). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  11. ^ Blues back from the brink.... This Is Essex (26 Jul 2000). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  12. ^ £41m college plans 'safe'. This Is Essex (2 Oct 2001). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  13. ^ £46m stadium protest hots up. This Is Essex (10 Oct 2000). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  14. ^ Fans counter ground protest. This Is Essex (21 Nov 2000). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  15. ^ Stadium plan set for February date. This Is Essex (19 Dec 2000). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  16. ^ Blues face new stadium delay. This Is Essex (21 Jan 2001). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  17. ^ Blues' stadium demo. This Is Essex (7 Mar 2001). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  18. ^ Blues stadium decision deferred. This Is Essex (8 Mar 2001). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  19. ^ Blues fans action group. This Is Essex (15 Mar 2001). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  20. ^ Webb's ground for concern. This Is Essex (8 Apr 2001). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  21. ^ Stadium plan `seafront threat'. This Is Essex (6 May 2001). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  22. ^ Martin soothes Blues' fans fears. This Is Essex (13 Jun 2001). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  23. ^ Blues up for sale. This Is Essex (14 Jun 2001). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  24. ^ Blues bosses' war of words over stadium. This Is Essex (21 Aug 2001). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  25. ^ Blues stadium plans stalled. This Is Essex (26 Sep 2001). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  26. ^ Blues 'to stay at Roots Hall'. This Is Essex (30 Sep 2001). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  27. ^ Martin vows new plans for stadium. This Is Essex (23 Jan 2002). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  28. ^ B and Q warehouse plan for Fossetts. This Is Essex (24 Jan 2002). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  29. ^ New home for Blues stadium?. This Is Essex (5 Feb 2002). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  30. ^ Ground is key to Blues' future. This Is Essex (8 Feb 2002). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  31. ^ Store could wreck Blues plans. This Is Essex (12 Jul 2002). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  32. ^ Bid to calm Blues' fans over club's future home. This Is Essex (22 Nov 2002). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  33. ^ Blues pooh-pooh hospital plan. This Is Essex (4 Dec 2002). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  34. ^ Deal welcomed by Blues boss. This Is Essex (5 Dec 2002). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  35. ^ Blues' stadium dream a step closer. This Is Essex (12 Dec 2002). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  36. ^ Farm site picked for hospital plan. This Is Essex (6 Nov 2003). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  37. ^ Action stations for new stadium. This Is Essex (3 May 2004). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  38. ^ Blues stadium plan moves step closer. This Is Essex (9 Nov 2004). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  39. ^ Stadium plan in limbo. This Is Essex (27 Sep 2005). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  40. ^ Blues chief planning complete takeover. This Is Essex (21 Nov 2005). Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
  41. ^ £25million superstadium: Work to start next year. This Is Essex (3 Aug 2006). Retrieved on 2006-08-03.
  42. ^ Planning Application Database - Southend Council (3 Aug 2006). Retrieved on 2006-08-03.

Permisison was granted by Southend and Rochford councils in February 2007

Southend United F.C.
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