THE Nirvana apartment block on Chalkwell seafront has been sold for £22million – but not to David Lloyd.

The former tennis star turned property entrepreneur, from Leigh, looked set to buy the huge block, but in Land Registry documents acquired by the Echo, a sale went through to a company registered in Jersey.

No other information is available on them, except the company is called Nirvana Investments Limited, and based in St Helier, Jersey.

The building, which has stood empty since work was completed in 2012, has 45 luxury apartments and three penthouses.

Mike Gray, from estate agents Dedman Gray, said: “I don’t think the firm being based offshore in Jersey has much of a bearing on what will happen to the block.

“It depends what their intentions are – whether they straight away sell on the apartments in piecemeal fashion, or whether they complete the outstanding works and finish the complex off before putting it onto the market.

“Clearly, a lot of UK and London investors were considering purchasing the block, and this can only be good news.”

The building, which is one of the most iconic on Southend seafront, has been plagued by delays, with previous owner Mukesh Aggarwal, claiming it was due to a legal dispute between over a six-inch strip of land between the site and neighbouring Bellway Court, broke out.

It is believed that has since been resolved.

But in January, Mr Lloyd announced he was close to tying up a deal to buy the apartments, with a deal to be signed in April, turning them into swanky properties, boasting a sauna, rooftop terrace, gym, and pool.

Lucy Courtenay, chairman of the Chalkwell Residents Association, said she took a call from a firm in London a few weeks ago, who were interested in the building and wanted the thoughts of residents.

She said: “If it has been sold to this firm, I’m very pleased as they wanted to smarten it up and take away the front balconies.

“People didn’t like, people still don’t like it, but its here and it’s much better for people to be living in it rather than it be empty.”

Jane Hendry, also from the association, added: “We welcome something happening on the site.”

The Echo has repeatedly tried to get in contact with David Lloyd Estates this week, but they have not returned our calls.

Echo:

Celia Gibson

Neighbouring residents raised concerns about parking if Nirvana is ever inhabited. 

The building will have underground bays, but locals feel that won’t be enough for the residents living there.

Celia Gibson, who lives in Grosvenor Road, said: “I’m worried about the parking situation as there have already been other apartment blocks opening in her street, placing a strain on the limited amounts of existing parking.

"It depends if it is going to be empty all the time or whether the flats are going to be sold. Nobody likes to see flats being empty, especially with so many homeless people in the town, so I would welcome them being sold.” 

Fellow Grosvenor Road resident Simon Harris added: “If people move in there it is going to make the parking round here even more horrendous than it already is.

"I would have preferred the design of it to be more in keeping with the surrounding area, but it would be nice to see people in there. 

And Alex Theuma, of The Leas, said he hopes the apartments will not be sat on by the new developers. 

He said: “Hopefully it is not one of those schemes where people buy the block of flats then keep them empty. I would say much initial reaction is pleased.

"It is better that somebody has bought it and whatever the problems of the situation are resolved and hopefully people will be living there.”