Football stadium to become homes?

[Razam]

www.echo-news.co.uk/news/14193547.Get_ready_for_nearly_5_000_homes_in_central_Southend___including_hundreds_on_Roots_Hall

Football stadium to become homes?

ROOTS Hall has been earmarked for up to 290 homes in the biggest hint yet that Southend Council is losing faith in Sainsbury’s building a superstore there.

The dilapidated football stadium and its surrounding land has been listed as an “opportunity site” for housing.

The homes will be built if Sainsbury’s fails to follow through on plans to relocate its London Road store to the Southend United ground, in Victoria Avenue.

Senior councillors have admitted supermarket chains are now reluctant to build huge stores, but have urged the public not to read too much into Roots Hall being including in detailed housing planning documents.

Sainsbury's insists it is in “commercially sensitive discussions” with the League One club, but the chain has never followed through with its plans despite the Blues getting Government approval to move to a new 21,000- seater venue at Fossetts Farm in 2008.

Labour’s Ian Gilbert, who represents Victoria ward, said: “While Sainsbury’s public statements say they are still committed to doing something on the site, we all know this has been going on for a very long time.

“It makes sense to prepare for all eventualities. With such a large site, I’d like a mixed use development on there, with commercial and employment buildings on the land, as well as homes."

Planning officers have also said they would like a mixed scheme at Roots Hall if Southend United moves to Fossetts Farm, which the homes expected to be flats.

When speaking publicly, club chairman Ron Matin appears to shed doubt on Sainsbury’s moving to Roots Hall, after getting real estate firm British Land on board last year to bankroll the first phase of the new stadium.

However, it is thought several shops in the row along Victoria Avenue are owned by the supermarket giant, while the former Prospects College site is still owned by the college.

Labour’s David Norman, who is responsible for planning, said: “There should not be too much read into the document, as it is a planning policy aspiration.

“But it looks like the big four supermarkets are drawing in their horns. A mixed use development which included some retail is the best bet for the area.”

Also included as an “opportunity site” is Sainsbury’s current home.

The authority believes it could get 150 homes on there, as well as offices, if the supermarket follows through with its plans to move.

Jamie Forsyth, co-editor of Blues fanzine All At Sea, remains cautious on whether the club will ever move, but would want any housing development in Roots Hall to touch on the football heritage of the site. He said: It’s not really a surprise the site has been earmarked for homes.

“Sainsbury’s seem to have gone cold on the idea of a store there and the natural assumption would be that houses would be the alternative – it’s a prime site at the entrance to Southend, five minutes walk from Prittlewell station and there wouldn’t be a shortage of interested parties.”

 

[OldBlueLady]

I think this is only what we all expected, and to be honest, another indication of why the council needs to get totally behind Fossetts.

 

[Jai]

The council can't get behind Fossetts until we actually submit a planning application. Lagging behind again.

 

[Kevin Hogg]

Sigh.
Will it ever read "work started today on FF"?

 

[lombard]

I can't see the stadium going ahead,before a realistic infrastructure plans are submitted.It would be chaotic trying to get out of town,without a fluid road network proposal and parking ideas. I am sick and tired of Uncle Ron thinking he can run roughshod over the council. Just because British Land have become involved,doesn't mean the proposals will automatically go ahead.It is fifteen years since Martin Dawn proposed a new stadium.How much longer ?

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

...is it relevant to us, what happens to Roots Hall afterwards ? Nobody has confirmed that the football club will benefit from any of the funds raised from the old site.

Lombard has a good point. He'll get much more backing if he addressed the concerns of the NIMBY's.

 

[kaymac]

I can't see the stadium going ahead,before a realistic infrastructure plans are submitted.It would be chaotic trying to get out of town,without a fluid road network proposal and parking ideas. I am sick and tired of Uncle Ron thinking he can run roughshod over the council. Just because British Land have become involved,doesn't mean the proposals will automatically go ahead.It is fifteen years since Martin Dawn proposed a new stadium.How much longer ?

Take your point, but there's never been a 'fluid road network' around Roots Hall to ease traffic.

 

[RobM]

It just isn't going to happen, is it?

 

[C C Csiders]

Take your point, but there's never been a 'fluid road network' around Roots Hall to ease traffic.

Unlike Blundell Park, for example.

 

[Fairport]

So many people mention roads and traffic related "problems" regarding a new stadium. If this is an issue then how do Newcastle, Tottenham, Arsenal, Norwich, Manchester Utd, Manchester City,Chelsea, Liverpool, Everton etc etc cope every weekend. Do we shut all these stadiums down because they don't have parking facilities or fast roads nearby?

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

those are existing stadia that have overcome the issues over time. We're starting with a fresh application (one day) and need public support. I can't see how you can compare them

 

[Fairport]

those are existing stadia that have overcome the issues over time. We're starting with a fresh application (one day) and need public support. I can't see how you can compare them

The comparison is obvious, between 30 and 70 thousand people are accommodated every week at places with no stadium parking and in the middle of areas with high density housing and narrow roads. Surely that is proof that you don't necessarily need new road building. There will be nimbys and gloom and doom merchants that will use the traffic argument to scupper the plans. I am simply saying that there are many examples that prove that it is not a massive problem. Places become crowded and of course there are traffic jams around busy places and events. That is part of modern day life, our own seafront and town gets gridlocked on summer weekends. Quite rightly people usually welcome the crowds who bring revenue into the town rather than argue that it is a major problem.

 

[bluebrian]

Wembley. That works!!!

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

Fair point, fairport....but surely, if RM explains where he envisages people to park and made arrangements for some Park and Ride schemes etc he may obtain more support from those doom and gloom merchants.

 

[Jai]

As ever with the traffic situation the devil will be in the detail and we can't speculate too much until we get a planning application to view. The odds are Priory Crescent will most probably be a pain on matchdays but crucially there are ways to avoid that area and still access the ground with a detour of about 5-10 minutes. These include going left at the Bell, up past the airport and accessing the ground via Rochford, or turning right at Cuckoo Corner onto the A127 and heading towards FF via East Street and Sutton Road from the south. Residents parking schemes may come into operation in the roads off Bournemouth Park Road which would restrict the parking options.

Road improvements will be needed but this factor alone should not block a stadium.

But, as I sign off every post about Fossetts Farm, it will never happen so don't worry.

 

[mrsblue]

So far,

Ron's fault,
Councils fault,
Pizza shop's fault
Sainbury fault,
Prospect's fault.

I doubt FF will ever be built,however I can see a smaller compact arena built because the pay off for some is the RH site.

 

[Kevin Hogg]

So far? a mere 31 years since Vic launched "the new stadium".

 

[Wise Head]

So far? a mere 31 years since Vic launched "the new stadium".

The ironic thing is that if we'd built a new stadium 31 years ago, then this thread would probably be about the fact that it was need of some renovation and possible redevelopment of the odd stand.

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

I do feel for RM in a way, because I assume, the banking crisis hit at the exact time he was about to ask for the funds from the relevant backers...and ever since, somehow he's managed to keep the club afloat which I applaud him for. My concern though, which you just be sick of hearing from me, is that one day the bills will outweigh the income and we'll collapse overnight.
Is there anything we (or anyone) can do in the best interests of the club to help the situation, which RM would accept as a viable alternative going forward ?

 

[Jai]

The ironic thing is that if we'd built a new stadium 31 years ago, then this thread would probably be about the fact that it was need of some renovation and possible redevelopment of the odd stand.

Vic's proposed new stadium had a greyhound track around the outside of the pitch. It's great that scheme never happened.