SOUTHEND United chairman Ron Martin believes plans for shops, restaurants and a hotel, part of his club’s planned new stadium complex, will compliment Southend’s High Street - not destroy it.

Mr Martin said the Fossetts Farm development, off Eastern Avenue, will work along Southend’s town centre, providing shoppers with even more reasons to come to Southend.

Meanwhile, Powerhaus, the planning consultancy firm behind the development, has also revealed how the new complex is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs.

Mr Martin’s comments came in response to an independent report by consultancy firm Boyers, commissioned by Southend Council, which claims the level of retail and leisure development will mean less businesses will take up space in the town centre.

Mr Martin disagreed. He said: “Changes on the High Street that have nothing to do with the town’s football club is not a fair reason to thwart the clubs ambitions and progress.

“To coin a phrase, Roots Hall is past its sell by date and the club has to move, and urgently, to survive and strive. The proposed enabling development to meet the cost of the stadium has been very carefully considered both in terms of content and design.

“The club wishes to create a scheme which all residents in the borough can be proud of. The proposals are designed to compliment the High Street whilst also providing a further reason to keep shoppers in Southend.

“The stadium will place the town on the football map by capitalising on the large demographic area to help fulfil its long-held potential. This new modern facility will provide the club with a sustainable future for years, indeed decades, ahead and in doing so attract new visitors to our town, including the seafront and High Street.”

His comments were backed by Independent councillor Martin Terry, who is vice-chairman of the council’s Place Scrutiny Committee.

Mr Terry said: “We know retail is struggling and it is a national problem, one could argue Fossetts may force the High Street to reinvent itself, but it is also a different type of offering. It is out of town so will have people coming in from other areas. I do think the town is vulnerable but I do not see Fossetts as a threat to the High Street.”

Plans for the stadium show the 21,000-seat stadium complex will include shops, restaurants and a cinema.

The Boyers report claims that it is being built at a time when the town centre is “fragile” and “vulnerable” and is already causing retailers to avoid investing in the town centre.

A spokesperson for Southend BID, an organisation which campaigns for business improvements in the borough, said: “Southend BID supports the application proposals for a new football stadium at Fossetts Farm together with directly related sports and community facilities.

“The upgraded facilities will be beneficial to the Southend community as well as the football club, however it strongly objects to the retail and leisure element of the proposals that would have a significant adverse impact on the town centre.”