A VACANT gym at the heart of the Shoebury Garrison development - which has remained un-opened for 15 years - could be redeveloped into homes.

Developers behind the Shoebury Garrison Gym and Spa, in Horseshoe Crescent, Shoebury, have appealed to the Government’s Planning Inspectorate over their plan for three, three-bedroom homes and two, two-bed flats.

It came after Southend Council refused the plan.

The gym, built in 2004, was intended for the residents of the new multi-million pound garrison estate. However, a provider never took on the running of the building and it has remained closed for the past decade.

Mike Gray, from Dedman Gray, said: “In the early days of the redevelopment of the garrison, I always thought a facility such as this would be a popular offing for the residents.

“As the years have past it is obvious that demand just is not there and where the leisure facility is based, it would be best served as some further residential properties.”

The appeal was made by developers, Garrison Holdings, which created the spa from a previous gunnery drill shed on the old garrison site.

Southend Council said that planning permission was refused as it would cause “unacceptable loss of historic fabric and harmful alterations to the internal layout”.

A council spokesman said: “We can confirm that we are aware of an appeal to the Secretary of State with regard to a planning application to convert an unused leisure centre at Shoebury Garrison into five dwellings.

“We will fully co-operate with the Planning Inspectorate as they determine this appeal.”