Last week the Echo revealed that Goldfield Developments Limited have finally put a concrete proposal on the table to  regenerate Marine Plaza on Southend seafront, featuring 282 flats split over six blocks, gardens,  and a host of space for bars, shops, and restaurants.

But is it a good thing?

 

AGAINST

Judith McMahon, Labour councillor for Kursaal and Pleasant Road resident

She said: “I am on the planning committee, but as a local resident I won’t be able to vote on it, so the only information I’ve seen on the development is what has recently been in the public domain.

“Speaking as a resident, I have spoken to neighbours about this development and one of the main themes that has come is the size of the buildings.

“There is a bit of a concern about from people about the scale of the buildings as the biggest one standing at 14 storeys high will be very tall.

“The people I have spoken to are enthusiastic about something happening on this site because it really is an appalling site, so they welcome something being done but the concern is the scale of the flats.

“It could be the catalyst for future similar developments in the area as when land becomes available developers could cite this as setting a precedent for the size of building on the seafront.

“There is also a concern about the loss of light from some residents on certain sides of the site. There are four homes opposite the site next to the guesthouse in Pleasant Road and because the sun rises in the East, a tall building can completely knock out their light.

“I knew of a family that had saved up to buy their first house down there but when they heard about this development and that people were talking about how tall it could be, they packed up and moved away as it would leave them with no natural sunlight.”

 

FOR

Paul Thompson, chairman of the Southend Seafront Traders’ Association

He said: “I think it is a very promising development, it will be good for the seafront and it’s definitely going to tidy up and regenerate a bit of an eyesore.

“I haven’t spoken to any other seafront traders yet, but I imagine they will be in favour of it as it modernises that part of town.

“The area has been a wasteland for so long; it would be nice to see something happen there.

“It would be nice if the developers could include some parking for the general public, which would be an additional bonus.

“When the sun comes out we there is a shortage of parking on the seafront.

“This development will be going on a car park, so we’re losing out on more space – it would be nice if they could offer some commercial parking to the public as a way to offset this.

“I would like to see a mix use of commercial units down there. I’d like to see the likes of restaurants, bars, and coffee houses – all things that would encourage people to come to the seafront.

“On the whole, I think it will be good for us down here and it will be a benefit to the seafront, I just hope we will be able to get some parking on there too.”