Why the wait for Marine Plaza? (From Echo)

Why the wait for Marine Plaza?

7:00am Tuesday 5th August 2008

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WHEN it was first revealed three years ago this month, the £100million Marine Plaza development, on Southend seafront, was hailed as a catalyst in the regeneration of the Golden Mile.

Entrepreneur John Remblance, owner of Talk nightclub and various seafront amusement arcades, put forward his ambitious plans for the site between Southchurch Avenue and the Kursaal to the council in 2005.

The development was seen to offer an iconic landmark which would help encourage visitors to come to Southend for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Now, three years later, the scheme approved by Southend Council two years ago is no further forward.

Instead, it looks like if it ever does go ahead, it is highly unlikely to be completed in time for the Olympics.

A major stumbling block is believed to be finding the money needed for such a massive scheme.

Banks and other financial institutions are more reluctant than they were a few years ago to lend money for developments like Marine Plaza.

The development would include 126 luxury flats which may also be difficult to sell or lease in the current economic climate. In December last year the agents acting for Mr Remblance, Dedman Planning and Regeneration, in Southchurch Road, Southend, announced a new partner was being sought to bring the scheme forward.

At the time, the company said there had been interest shown in the proposals by a number of major developers.

Dedman managing director Mike Gray insists the project is still on track. He said: “Negotiations are continuing at the moment and hopefully we will be in a position to give some more details in the next few weeks.

“Various options are being considered at present to bring forward Marine Plaza,”

However, it also appears the acquisition of the land needed for the development has not been completed.

In the middle of the site is the Foresters, one of the most famous of the town’s seafront pubs, currently being operated by John Woodhouse and his partner Sharon.

Mr Woodhouse said: “As far as I am concerned, we have a lease from a major pub company and that remains the situation.

“We have been told absolutely nothing about what is going on since the scheme was first announced.”

The full proposals for Marine Plaza agreed by the council in July 2006, were for a landmark building rising to 16-storeys, incorporating a 100-bedroom hotel, casino, 126 homes, conference rooms, leisure and entertainment facilities, restaurants, bars and 650 parking spaces.

The Rank Organisation which has a licence for a new casino in Southend had been eyeing Marine Plaza as a possible site for a new gambling complex.

Rank consultant Tim Quinlan, a former director of Westcliff Casino, said: “The problem at the moment is it seems to be two steps forward and three back.

“We are still in negotiations concerning possible sites.

“The big problem with the seafront site at Marine Plaza is that there is still so much uncertainty about it.”

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