HERE are the first ever interior photographs of the new community stadium that will be home to Colchester United from the start of next season.

Elliot Furniss

HERE are the first ever interior photographs of the new community stadium that will be home to Colchester United from the start of next season.

The 10,000 seat arena is still being built by construction firm Barr in the north of the town, close to the A12, and has been designed to be as environmentally friendly and accessible to the public as possible.

The new ground will offer state-of-the-art facilities to fans and players alike and Colchester Borough Council, which has helped fund the project, hopes it will become a focal point for the town's residents.

The arena will have more female toilets per head than any other new stadia in the UK and more refreshment kiosks than many larger grounds.

The seats will be wider and offer more leg room than the current out-dated Layer Road ground and the players' changing rooms will be fitted with top-of-the range washing facilities and preparation equipment.

The ground will meet the latest Football Licensing Authority guidance for disabled fans and there will be 100 spaces for wheelchair users, with the majority of them at elevated level with access via lifts.

Work is also due to begin shortly on the all important grass pitch construction, having it ready for the late spring grass-growing season, as well as the road access and parking area.

The stadium project took more than a decade to come to fruition with a number of setbacks along the way, including the lack of access from the nearby A12.

But eventually Colchester Borough Council decided to press ahead without a junction from the trunk road, although this is due to be built in coming years.

Brian Jarvis, the council's portfolio holder for planning and regeneration, said the stadium was already looking like an “impressive” building.

He added: “We are delighted that Barr construction has engaged so many local companies to work with them on the building of this first class facility.

“The stadium is already a local landmark that we can all be proud of and shows how Colchester is developing to become a prestigious regional centre.”