Southend United will tomorrow be submitting plans for their long awaited new 22,000 all seater stadium to Southend Borough Council, southendunited.co.uk can exclusively reveal.

It is proposed the new stadium will be built on land at the Fossetts Farm site - behind Waitrose - with the principal access from Sutton Road roundabout.

Designed by architects HOK, recently responsible for the design of Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium, the new facility will be at the cutting edge of football stadia.

The stadium incorporates both hotel and conference facilities and will be linked to a proposed enabling retail development in what will be a major boost to the Town's regeneration.

Subject to an early approval by Southend Borough Council the Club would hope to play their first game at the new stadium early during the 2008/09 season.

The new capacity of 22,000 represents a 100% increase to that of the Blues current Roots Hall site, and a significant increase (some 1,000 cars) to match day parking but with emphasis on public transport and shuttle links to the Town Centre also.

For the corporate guest there will be 46 executive boxes some of which in turn "double up" as hotel suites as part of an integrated 114 bedroom hotel. Additionally there will be Club Level party decking areas and restaurants seating up to 1,100 people.

The stadium, detailed above, comprises of a bowl structure, sunk into the ground, providing an excellent atmosphere within the stadium whilst containing noise levels outside.

The retail village adjoining the stadium complex comprises of 15 units.

It is expected, and hoped, that the Football Club will receive a decision from the Council on the application - very early in the New Year - perhaps January.

southendunited.co.uk will have further details online tomorrow about what supporters can expect at the Blues new stadium, once the plans have been submitted to the Council.