Plans to demolish a former hospital and transform it into at least ten homes has been given the go-ahead.

The outline proposal to build semi-detached homes and a three-storey block of flats on the site of Shoebury House hospital, Ness Road, was approved by Southend’s Development Committee on Wednesday.

The application was submitted by the NHS and could see up to ten homes built on the site, which has recently served as a non-residential specialist health centre.

While 13 members of the committee backed the plans, councillor Denis Garne, of the West Shoebury Ward raised concerns about the potential flood risk, which was noted as being high in a report by planning officers.

Mr Garne told the meeting: “It’s unbelievable we should propose putting residential buildings here.

“It says its flood risk three, the highest flood risk area and yet we are still proposing we do it.

“I wouldn’t live there even if it was offered to me for free and I hope any renters living there will be fully aware of the situation.”

Planning officers reassured the committee that the flood risk is considered “acceptable” and they have received no objections from the Environment Agency.

With the plan being only an outline application, the officer added: “The applicant will need to come back with details of scale, appearance and layout.”

The building has been vacant and boarded up since 2008 and was set alight by arsonists in August damaging 50 percent of the building’s roof and the floors below.

The NHS sees the site as surplus to its needs.

A number of heritage sites are located near to the site, including the Grade II listed South Shoebury Hall Farmhouse and the Grade II listed St Andrews Church in Church Road. Planning officers told the committee the applications would not have any adverse effects on these sites.