A whopping £60million could be ploughed into modernising Southend seafront by the developers behind the Marine Plaza project.

Goldfield Developments is looking to create the huge entertainment and homes complex – and it wants planning permission to do it by February.

After several false starts, the London-based company has already put £7million into its initial proposals, which they say will help Southend go from “strength to strength”.

The plans for the wasteland in Marine Parade include 282 flats split into six blocks – one of them 14 stories tall – rows of shops, takeaways, and restaurants, plus a specially designed public area and car park underneath.

The group hopes to put the proposals in front of Southend councillors at February’s planning meeting and start work on the site by the end of 2015, if planning permission is given.

Mark Farrier, partner at Goldfield Developments, said: “Our development has been designed to link the Kursaal to the town centre, attracting more people up to the Eastern Esplanade and boosting the economy along the seafront.

“We are confident Southend will go from strength-to-strength as the country’s economy improves and want to invest more than £60million in developing this site on the Golden Mile.

“We are delighted with the support we have received from the local business community for our Marine Plaza plans.”

Goldfield is still in negotiations to buy up one last piece of land to ensure the development goes ahead – a terraced house in Southchurch Avenue.

It is understood the firm has offered homeowner Florence Tall £200,000 to part with her house, but the group will still look to get planning permission before concluding negotiations.

It is also believed several businesses have expressed an interest in moving into the commercial units at the bottom of the complex, with the developer looking to entice household names, such as Pizza Express and Nandos.

A garden area will separate the flat blocks at the back of the development, while a raised public area with seats will provide sea views and access to the shops and eateries.

The firm has previously said it hopes the whole regeneration is completed by 2018.

Plans first surfaced to regenerate the area in 2005, when JBR Leisure proposed a £100million development, featuring a casino, luxury apartments, shops and other commercial uses.

However, it fell foul of the recession, collapsing in 2009.

Southend is 'open for business'

THE leader of Southend Council claims the £60million Marine Plaza redevelopment shows that the borough is back open for business.

Independent Ron Woodley said that the Marine Plaza project, alongside the proposed Seaways car park redevelopment, plus the planned airport business park, shows investment is booming.

Six years ago, plans for Marine Plaza collapsed in the face of the recession, while a development of the Seaways car park could finally come to fruition in 2015 after being in the pipeline for years.

Mr Woodley says these two regeneration projects, alongside the planned airport business park, which recently got Government approval, have set Southend on an upward trend.

Mr Woodley, who represents Thorpe, said: “Southend is open for business.

“These are exciting times and the sheer amount of development shows that the economy is picking up and there are good opportunities for developers in Southend.”

Aside from the commercial seafront development, plans to regenerate the whole Queensway estate have been set in motion in a huge project which could take a decade to complete, while Southend Council is trying to push through the demolition and redevelopment of dilapidated tower blocks in Victoria Avenue.

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Seafront traders welcome plans

Seafront traders and business experts hope Marine Plaza will be the catalyst to attract thousands of more visitors to the town.

Instead of fearing they will be put out of business, traders along Marine Parade claim the £60million complex will be a boost to the seafront alongside several other high-profile developments.

Along with Marine Plaza, Adventure Island is continuing to expand, while a new cinema and leisure complex looks set to be built at the Seaways car park.

Business leaders claim these high-profile projects show developers have confidence in Southend, after previous plans to regenerate Marine Plaza collapsed six years ago.

Dawn Jeakings, chairman of Southend Business Improvement District, said: “We are pleased to hear of further confidence in the town with exciting new developments such as Marine Plaza.

“Investment in the town, and specifically the seafront elevation, just shows the area has great potential to attract even more than the average sixmillion visitors each year.

“Marine Plaza will contribute to the continued success of Southend, with seven miles of glorious waterfront this is another development that will make sure even more will be able to enjoy it.”

Although household names such as Nandos are lined up for Marine Plaza, traders on the seafront claim the new complex will help, not hinder them.

Marine Parade plays host to several traditional amusement arcades, fish and chip shops, pubs, and venues in what is dubbed the Golden Mile.

Ellie Zinonos, owner of function suite Room 24, said: “As the owner of a local entertainment venue, and a long-time resident of Southend, I think it’s brilliant to hear about an investment of over £60million into the seafront’s economy.

“The addition of the Marine Plaza development to the Golden Mile will bring in welcome business, not just to Room 24, but to all businesses along the Eastern Esplanade.”

James Howell, from promotional website Southend Rising, added: “This development will not only revitalise a somewhat dog-earned corner of the Golden Mile, but act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of Southend seafront.”

Developers say - we need your help

THE developers have issued a call to arms to Southend, urging people to back their project.

Goldfield Development says it needs people’s support in trying to get their proposals to regenerate Marine Parade approved.

Their officials are working with planning officers at Southend Council to bring their ambitious proposal to February’s development control committee to get planning approval.

In the meantime, Goldfield Developments has set up a website to keep people updated: marineplaza.co uk On the website, it has a section which encourages people to write messages of support for the project.

These statements could be presented to Southend Council in the developer’s bid to get planning permission early next year.

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