PICTURES: First look at revamped £50million leisure centre in Southend

Turnstone Estates, who are carrying out the transformation of the Seaway car park, in Lucy Road, will put their plans on show at an exhibition this week as they look to push through their scheme ahead of a rival development at Fossetts Farm in Southend.

A year from unveiling their project, the images show an altered plan that will feature an 80-bedroom hotel, more parking spaces, 12 plush restaurants, and a cinema on top of the complex, with a leisure centre behind, in a scheme they hope will rival Basildon’s “Bas Vegas.”

Tim Deacon, managing director of the Cambridge-based firm, said: “We want to make sure that the facilities we deliver are designed with the views of local people in mind and this is a fantastic opportunity for residents to find out more and for us to listen to what matters to them.”

People will have their chance to see the plans for the first time at a public exhibition at the Royals Shopping Centre this Wednesday, from midday to 7pm.

Turnstone are looking to push through their scheme before the rival development from Southend United and British Land, which features 35 retail units, restaurants, and a Cineworld cinema, as well as a new stadium for the Blues.

Parking concerns

But concerns have been raised that the number of parking spaces proposed will not be enough, with a multi-storey and surface level parking featuring 500 spaces, which is 47 more than the site’s current offer.

Paul Thompson, chairman of the Southend Seafront Traders’ Association, said: “The spaces on Seaway are not sufficient to cope with the demand in the summer at the moment, and adding a cinema complex you will need more spaces than what is proposed. They would need about 1,000.”

And Mick Thwaites, head of business development at the Stockvale Group, which owns Adventure Island, added: “Unless you can get people parking close to the seafront or on the seafront they are not going to come.

“If there’s going to be a major development on the seafront you need to look at parking and infrastructure.”

But Turnstone has dropped 99 apartments from their scheme, saying it will add 20 extra parking spaces compared to their original plans, and keep coach bays for bus daytrippers.

Mr Deacon, who said his development would “compliment and enhance” the seafront and town centre, said: “We are aware of the concerns around parking and will be doing detailed analysis to ensure that our scheme provides parking to serve both the evening cinema and leisure peak demand and the day time seafront demand.”

Frankie and Benny’s, Mexican outlet Chiquito, and American diner Coast 2 Coast, have already signed up to take three of the restaurant units, but the developer has not confirmed whether anyone has signed up to operate the hotel yet.

What councillors think to Seaway:

Julian Ware-Lane, Milton councillor for Labour

“Development needs to happen and the town needs to be forward thinking, especially for business opportunities, and I’m all for keeping the town centre vibrant, but if you ask me honestly I think there are some issues.

“Victoria gateway has been a disaster for transport and with the proposed Queensway regeneration development, I have concerns about traffic flow on the road coming down to Seaway.

“The Kursaal ward has grown massively in the last few years while some other wards haven’t, and I’d be concerned about cramming stuff into one area.”

Jonathan Garston, Conservative councillor for Milton

“Regeneration has to be welcomed, we need to do what we can to bring tourism into the town, I regularly speak to residents who say we are losing customers to the likes of Lakeside, so a cinema will definitely help.

“I think it will attract visitors to the seafront, in the way Brighton does because it has a lot of attractions on the seafront there.

“Yes, there are really good advantages of this as long as concerns, perhaps from residents who are living on top of the development, are listened to.”