Southend United will have to contribute £750,000 towards facilities for the local community if plans for a new stadium go ahead.

Because of the size of the development, the club will have to enter into a legally binding agreement with Southend Council to outline what they will have to do if they get permission for the Fossetts Farm project.

The council has said this would include £516,000 for play areas, £103,496 towards education and £103,000 for community and leisure facilities.

It would also provide £30,000 for plants to shield the adjoining Southend Crematorium and its gardens of remembrance from some of the noise from the stadium on match days.

The agreement would also set out how many shops would be allowed at the stadium as traders have complained too many shops would threaten business in the town centre. The development also includes plans for a hotel and conference facility as well as 127 flats.

The council insists some of these will have to be affordable housing, because as yet, the club has not proposed to provide any.

Normally one in five flats in a development of this size would be allocated as affordable housing which means they are designed for sale or rent to people on lower incomes. However the club has suggested reserving flats for affordable housing when it redevelopes its Roots Hall site.

The club is also expected to provide CCTV coverage at the new stadium. The council, backed by the police, feels it would help to make the site safer.

In addition, archaeologists would have to examine the site for any possible historic artefacts before construction commences.

When developer John Remblance was given permission for a hotel, 126 homes, a casino with restaurants and bars in Marine Parade last year, he was asked to contribute £1.5million towards road improvements and community facilities.

If Southend councillors approve the plans on Wednesday, it will automatically be referred to the Government for a final decision because it would be a departure from the local plan.