A DECISION on whether Heybridge Swifts Football Club will get a new stadium will be made today.

The club is looking to move from its Scraley Road home and into a brand new stadium on land off Goldhanger Road.

In its place, 104 homes could be built.

The controversial application has been debated for more than two years and will go before an extraordinary meeting of the full council tonight.

The stadium would be funded by Bloor Homes with the developer keen on developing the Scraley Road site.

The club launched its first public consultation in March 2015 and, after a great deal of feedback, released their amended plans for public view in September last year.

The plans have been recommended for refusal.

Both Heybridge and Goldhanger Parish Councils, and more than 1,000 residents, have objected to the plans.

Grounds include flooding risks at the new site, traffic, noise and light pollution from the floodlights.

The plans do include an increase in tree planting between the new location and Saltcote Hall, whose owners complained the noise pollution from chanting fans would be too great.

Planning officer Mark Woodger, in his report to the council, stated: “The proposed site is within a sensitive rural location outside of the defined settlement boundary of Heybridge, within the open countryside, and located within a coastal zone.

“The development by reason of the associated noise, light, traffic movements would be injurious to the existing rural character and the views to the site, which are extensive in this wide flat rural landscape, affecting its intrinsic character and value.”

Mr Woodger also recommended refusal of Bloor Homes’ 104 house plan for Scraley Road. Patrick Forsyth, of the Goldhanger Road Group, said: “We are delighted by this recommendation to refuse but take nothing for granted." 

Jaimie Wragg, design and technical director at Bloor Homes, said: “We have worked hard to create a scheme which will provide much-needed, high quality homes in Heybridge.

“We are disappointed with the recommendation of refusal as we have been working with officers for some time.

“We hope members recognise the support in the community for this application.”