DEVELOPERS behind the £100million Marine Plaza development may have to submit a new planning application following claims work on the site was not started in time.

The Inner London Group plans to transform the prominent site opposite the Kursaal.

Representatives insist they completed preliminary work on foundations and the demolition of some buildings, on July 13, last year before planning permission expired on July 22, three years after it was granted.

However Southend Council has requested proof this work was carried out adequately after planners said they believed permission had lapsed.

The company demolished a number of properties, including the Foresters Arms pub, ahead of planned work on a hotel, 282 flats, shops and restaurants.

Partner Larry Fentiman said: “This is only a legal issue and is not going to stop anything. They have not yet looked at all the information we’ve sent, including photos that are date stamped and four sworn affidavits. We’ve sent everything along with a planning barrister’s report and all have said overwhelmingly we have done everything we should have done. It’s all a formality.

“Its taken five years to get planning permission because its such a big site and cost us more than £1million but everything is going good.

Carole Mulroney, councillor responsible for planning, said: “Under the conditions imposed, the developer had to commence development by July 2018 or the planning consent becomes invalid and a fresh planning application would need to be submitted for consideration by the council.

“The developer has now submitted an application for a “lawful development certificate” with details of why they consider the consent was lawfully implemented in time.

“By considering this application the local planning authority will be able to determine whether the planning permission has lawfully been implemented. If it is determined that it has, then the consent stands. If it is determined that it hasn’t, then the developers would need to submit a fresh planning application.”