Southend United has given a first glimpse of its plans for Roots Hall when the Blues move to their new home at Fossetts Farm.

A preliminary plan for 469 homes, set to be built when the Roots Hall stadium is demolished, has been lodged with Southend Council – less than the formerly proposed 675 homes.

The plans show a mix of four to 12-storey blocks with 610 parking spaces with access from Victoria Avenue, Shakespeare Drive and Roots Hall Avenue.

The “screening opinion” will assess whether the club needs to carry out an environmental impact assessment.

Club chairman Ron Martin said: “Subject to a further pre-application meeting with the council we envisage being in a position to submit a detailed planning application for Roots Hall around the end of June.

“The proposal to regenerate Roots Hall will provide much needed homes in the borough once the club has moved to its new stadium.”

Plans for the new stadium off Eastern Avenue were lodged with Southend Council last year and are expected to be considered at a development control meeting on June 6.

The 21,000-seater stadium at Fossetts will also have a mix of shops, restaurants and flats along with a hotel and multi-screen cinema.

The Roots Hall site in Victoria Avenue is pivotal to the Fossetts plans, providing funding towards the new stadium.

The ambitious plans have been beset with problems, with Sainsbury’s backing out of proposals to build a major supermarket on the Roots Hall site citing changes in the economic climate at the time.

Tony Cox, councillor responsible for adults and housing, welcomed the prospect of new homes on the vast site, but urged caution over their affordability.

Mr Cox said: “Homes are needed but they have to be done in the right way. I’m pleased to see this moving forward if Fossetts Farm comes to fruition.

“It’s always interesting with outline planning permission to get a flavour of what the intended use will be.”

Mr Cox added: “If the homes are affordable it can only be a good thing but that’s the key. The average person can’t get on the housing ladder now. House prices are spiralling above what people can afford.”