These are the latest images of Southend United's planned new 22,000-seater stadium at Fossetts Farm.

The scheme, complete with hotel, flats and shops has been given the green light by both Southend and Rochford district councils.

Blues chairman Ron Martin aims to start work as soon as the plans gain the final approval from Secretary of State for Communities, Ruth Kelly.

The proposals have to gain Government approval because they are a departure from agreed local development plans and parts are in the green belt.

A public inquiry could be called which would delay work on the new stadium for months and possibly years.

However, Mr Martin is optimistic given the strength of support by both the public in Southend and the local authorities, the application will not be called in for a public inquiry.

If the green light is given in the near future, it is planned to have the new stadium up and running in time for the 2008-9 football season.

In a move designed to safeguard the town centre and High Street traders, Southend Council imposed an extra condition which is unusual and has not been used by the authority before.

This will require any businesses currently in the town centre which take a unit at Fossetts Farm to sign an undertaking to remain in the High Street for five years.

Since the original proposals were put forward, Southend United has reduced the amount of shopping space included in the Fossetts Farm scheme in response to fears of the effect the development could have on the town centre.

The amount of floorspace in a proposed superstore on the site has been reduced and three of the planned smaller shop units have been axed.

In total, the amount of retail space has been reduced from 23,862 sq ft to 19,881 sq ft which represents a 14 per cent reduction on the original plans.

This will allow an improved look to the end of the stem of retail development leading towards the new stadium from Eastern Avenue, Mr Martin believes.

Restrictions have also been put on the use of the training pitches and floodlit area within the Rochford district.

Rochford District Council's development control committee said the floodlighting should only be used on three nights a week, only up to 10pm and never on Sundays, to minimise the impact on residents.