Property developer Martin Dawn has been frozen out of its third land deal in as many weeks.

Essex County Council has agreed to sell a prime piece of Benfleet land to Castle Point Council rather than Billericay-based Martin Dawn.

Ron Martin, chairman of Martin Dawn which co-owns Southend United Football Club with Delancey Estates, today refused to comment.

Martin Dawn already owns most of the land at Ferry Creek but wanted to build 30 homes on the entire site some of which is owned by Essex County Council.

Earlier this year, the county council invited bids from Martin Dawn and Castle Point Council for its share of the Ferry Creek site.

Now County Hall has plumped to sell the land to the borough council which has secured funding from the Canvey Marshes Trust to preserve it for the people of Benfleet.

The news is a further blow to Martin Dawn after plans to build a £12.5million stadium at Fossetts Farm in Eastern Avenue, fell through three weeks ago. The decision by site owner Lansbury means Southend United will now stay at Roots Hall.

Last Friday, a £30million deal for a college campus in the heart of Southend also stalled after South East Essex College and Martin Dawn were unable to agree a contract.

Today, members of Castle Point Council were delighted with the decision.

Brian Wilson, chairman of the conservation area sub-committee, said: This is fantastic news. We are absolutely delighted. We have always intended to enhance the land and preserve it for the people of Benfleet.