IT IS one of the biggest developments on Southend seafront in a generation. Now, the £100million Marine Plaza development has cleared its final hurdle and work can start soon after Southend Council signed off the final plan.

So what does the development look like?

  • Marine Plaza will be a striking, modern building on the old Dizzyland opposite the Kursaal, also including the area of the old Foresters Arms pub, which was demolished last year.

Echo:

The Foresters prior to demolition

  • The scheme was originally proposed by seafront businessman John Remblance in 2005.
  • The Inner London Group, a developer, took the plan on and now the man leading the development is Larry Fentiman.
  • When complete this three-acre plot will provide 282 plush apartments and restaurants, cafes and bars overlooking the Golden Mile.
  • Cafes and restaurants are likely to face onto Marine Parade at ground and first floor levels
  • The rest of the development, including the eight and twelve floor towers is to be residential apartments
  • Echo: Marine Plaza
  • The heart of the scheme is one large public space, with plants and trees, located over basement car parks which provide all the parking for this development.
  • Developers say the planting in the central part of this site is maritime in nature and is planted through a sandy type mulch, reminiscent of a dune landscape.The landscape proposals for this scheme were inspired by the adjacent coastal environment. The marks left by advancing and receding tides, maritime planting and the colours and hues of materials in this location all informed decisions made about the design elements of this scheme.

Developer Larry Fentiman said: "We are absolutely delighted and will be cracking on now and moving ahead as fast as we can.

“It’s been a long process but if they didn’t do its job properly then the scheme could be attacked at a later date.

“The council wanted the scheme brought forward. There is lots going on in the borough over the coming years and we will be part of that.”

The development should not be confused with the neighbouring Seaway development, on the council car park, which is currently halted.