A landowner claims a new hotel has stopped him from selling an eyesore piece of land on Southend seafront.

Robert Leonard Group bought the former gasworks site in Eastern Esplanade back in 2008, but only part of the area has been redeveloped.

Esplande House was torn down and replaced with a Premier Inn - opening earlier this year.

The landowner had planning permission for 216 flats, a 64 bedroom hotel, a piazza area, and more than 50 affordable homes, granted in 2010, and extended two years ago.

But angry councillors called on the firm to stop dragging its heels and decontaminate the site before selling it on.

But Perry Gamon, who is the managing director of the firm, said it was ‘standard’ developers would carry out those decontamination works.

He said: “Potential suitors have been put off by the hotel element being immediately next door to the new Premier Inn.

“We were unwilling to sell due to a long standing legal dispute which has now been settled. Following that, just recently, a buyer we had aborted.

“Ayers and Cruiks have now been instructed to market the site.”

The development has stalled because of the recession, but now councillors believe there is no reason why a buyer or developer can’t be found now that the economy has picked up.

Back in 2013, the firm wanted to hand over part of the site to a housing association for affordable homes before the whole area was decontaminated, but this was refused.

Anne Jones, Labour councillor for Kursaal, added: “They wanted to build social housing next to contaminated land, and that’s not right, especially when you consider the Kursaal ward is highly deprived and people have a low life expectancy compared to other areas.”

The landowner also wanted to delay handing over £116,000 to contribute to education until after 50 of the flats were occupied, but this was also turned down two years ago.

Mrs Jones added: “It’s not really about having a buyer or Premier Inn putting off people, it’s about the group getting down to the nitty gritty of things to move it on.”

Premier Inn being used as an excuse, says senior councillor

A senior councillor says the new Premier Inn is being used as an excuse.

Independent Martin Terry lives in nearby Victoria Road and he has questioned how difficult it is for the Robert Leonard Group to sell the land now the economy has picked up.

He said: “I don’t think they can blame Premier Inn – it’s a modern building and a sign of regeneration down there. Why would that put off developers?

“In this vibrant, healthy market, they need to either do something with the site and redevelop it, or let someone else do it.”

And Simon Gittus, who is standing for the Conservatives in the ward in next May’s elections, added: “To me, it would make sense for the site to be developed into new, decent sized, affordable homes focused around a central park, designed to fit in with the vernacular of the area.

“Personally, I would have no issue in living next to a hotel and would love to live on the seafront, so cannot understand the landlord's challenges in selling the site to a developer."

 

Hotel welcomes the comeptition

Premier Inn, which has transformed half of the gasworks site, has said it welcomes competition next door.

The Robert Leonard Group are touting the Eastern Esplanade site to sellers with planning permission for affordable homes, flats, and a 64-bedroom hotel – despite the budget hotel chain pitching up next door.

The national chain’s 80-bedroom hotel opened up in February, costing £7million.

It was built in place of the former Esplanade House site, after the shell of the building was torn down in 2013, years after the Robert Leonard Group first bought the site.

A spokeswoman for Premier Inn said:"We welcome any business that brings more economy and jobs to Southend.

“When we opened our 80-bedroom Premier Inn and Brewers Fayre restaurant in February, we brought £7 million of investment for the local area - as well as 77 year-round-jobs.

“Since opening, we've welcomed many happy guests into the hotel and the business continues to thrive."

And local Labour councillor Anne Jones believes two hotels within seconds of each other on the seafront could work.

She said: “Southend has had a huge increase in hotel rooms being booked over the last few years, so that shows there is demand in the town for hotels.”