A NEW £6.3million pavilion for Southend Pier is set to boost jobs and visitors to the town.

The council announced last week it had found an architect to design a futuristic pavilion at the shore end of the Pier.

It will be placed on the site of a former bowling alley which burned down in 1995. That deck area has remained unused ever since.

Ann Holland, councillor responsible for culture, tourism and the economy, said: “For many years, local people have been calling upon us to improve the visitor offer of the pier.

“As the world’s longest pleasure pier, it is a source of huge local pride. But a frequent criticism is that there isn’t much for visitors to do when they are on it.

“It’s exactly that criticism that we are seeking to address with the design of a new visitor attraction on the former bowling deck, which was devastated by fire in 1995.”

London-based architects, ADP, which also designed the Forum library, have been appointed to design the building which the council hopes to seek planning permission for next summer.

Mrs Holland added: “A new pavilion, situated on the former bowling deck, gives us the opportunity to potentially rehome and expand the pier museum. It gives us the opportunity to better tell the fascinating story of the pier and of the wider town. And it gives us the opportunity to enhance the recreation and leisure offer for visitors and locals alike.

“It would create jobs, it would further enhance the central seafront and it would be a welcome boost to the local economy. Indeed, tourism is one of the major employment sectors in Southend and adds an estimated £400million to the local economy, so it is important that we continue to invest in this important sector.”

Money for the design stage of the project has been allocated from the council’s capital budget but funding for the remainder of the work has yet to be identified.

Mrs Holland said: “We will need to seek out funding streams to finance any future development. Clearly, securing funding will play a pivotal role in delivering the scheme. We will be looking closely at grants and funding streams as well as our own budgets.

“Like our residents, we want the pier to thrive. And we want the pier to be financially self-sustaining, so that it is not being effectively subsidised by the local council tax payer every year.

“In order for that ambition to be fulfilled, we need to invest in facilities that attract more visitors and increase income levels.”

The council has commenced work on extending and improving the pier entrance. After acquiring the small amusement arcade that was at the pier entrance, the council is set to start work soon on creating a “more attractive and welcoming arrival at our town’s greatest landmark”.