A prominent £100million development in Southend will start after Christmas, it has been revealed.

The Inner London Group, who are behind the ambitious Marine Plaza development on Southend seafront, has planning permission for282 flats along with shops and restaurants on the landmark seafront site opposite the Kursaal.

The company has recently obtained planning permission for the final details of the development and said it is set to go ahead at the beginning of next year.

Larry Fenttiman, a director of the group, said: “Everything is all going to plan. We have done our conditional application and that has all been passed. Now we’re gearing up for the start early next year.

“We’ve done the majority of preparation on the site. It will take up to five years but it will be done in stages with things opening in that time. People won’t be looking at a building site for the whole five years.”

The company lodged an application to change the wording of some details of its original application, a preliminary move which will tie up loose ends and allow the development to get going. This was largely to do with the type of materials which will be used.

The 282 homes across six buildings, will range in height from four to 14 storeys.

There will also be a central courtyard.

The site has been deliberately set back from the seafront to ensure that it does not obscure views of the iconic Kursaal.

The large development has suffered setbacks in recent years, partly to do with the difficult financial climate but is set to steam ahead now. The company also faced delays in one elderly resident6 at one of the houses on the site who steadfastly refused to be moved.