The way is now open for Southend United to realise their dream of a new 15,000-seater stadium after a major warehouse was given the green light to move with the club.
The council's development control committee agreed plans by site owner Lansbury Retail for a major new B&Q warehouse, which will be the largest superstore in Southend, on part of Fossetts Farm, off Eastern Avenue.
Because it is a change from the local plan designation for the area, the Deputy Prime Minister will have to give his approval, but this is expected to be a virtual formality.
Lansbury is in talks with the Blues over a development of the whole site but this would only be taken further provided the B&Q plans were given the go-ahead.
Committee chairman Daphne White (Con, Thorpe) said the planned store would be five times bigger than the existing B&Q by Southend Victoria station.
The only dissenting voices at the meeting, where the scheme was backed by Tory and Liberal Democrat members, came from two Labour councillors.
Published Thursday, December 12, 2002
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