PLANS for a new cafe and restaurant at Shoebury’s East Beach have been given the green light.

Applicant Ken Herve wants to build the two-storey restaurant at the entrance to East Beach, near the public car park.

Despite concerns about the brightly-coloured design and plans for a flat in the roof, Southend Council approved the plans.

Three parking spaces will be provided next to the building, while a small, first-floor flat will be used by a staff member for night-time security.

But a number of councillors said they had misgivings about the flat and feared it could result in other businesses demanding the same thing.

Peter Ashley (Con, St Luke’s) said: “It’s going to be good for the area and for the town, but I can’t go along with the one-bedroom flat.”

However, the plans got the blessing of Alan Crystall (Lib Dem, Leigh).

He said: “I’m sure it will be very successful.”

There will be room for up to 150 diners, both inside and outside, with the majority expected to park in the nearby 175-space public car park.

Changes to the car park, including keeping part of it open late, and installing a new gate and lighting, would be paid for by the applicant.

The site will have a ground-floor cafe and a first-floor restaurant for evening dining. It will replace the wooden cafe at the same site, which was burned to the ground more than four years ago.

It will be open from 9am until 11pm, seven days a week, creating 11 full-time and 16 part-time jobs.