INDOOR golf, a climbing wall and a virtual reality zone will make up part of a new £50million leisure complex, the Echo can reveal.

Plans for the Seaway Leisure Complex, off Lucy Road, Southend, are being finalised with a detailed planning application expected to be submitted to Southend Council before Christmas.

Tim Deacon, the director at Turnstone Estates - the company behind the multi-million pound development - said: “We remain committed to the Seaway scheme and have been spending time securing anchor tenants such as Empire with IMAX, Travelodge and Hollywood Bowl.

“We have also been considering recent trends and changes in the restaurant sector nationally and are intending to add further leisure space to the scheme – including for example indoor golf, climbing, and a virtual reality zone.

“Southend is still a key target for growing restaurant companies and Turnstone are progressing with a number of lettings, but the additional leisure space will make the scheme less reliant on food and beverage.”

Mr Deacon added: “We now look forward to submitting the application and creating a scheme for the benefit of the local community.”

The new Seaway Leisure development is expected to directly create around 450 new jobs and provide a boost to Southend’s town centre economy.

Franky and Benny’s has been named as one restaurant signed up to open in the complex.

Turnstone said the recent closure of Frankie and Benny’s in Southchurch Road, “has no connection with the company’s commitment to Seaway Leisure”.

John Lamb, leader of Southend Council said: “We are pleased Turnstone will submit their planning application very soon.

“This is an exciting development that would see significant private investment pumped into the central Southend area and at the same time deliver a long-term income stream into the council.

“The proposals would deliver a modern, vibrant and non-seasonal leisure, food and drink destination for the local community and visitors, create hundreds of jobs for local people as well as providing a new hotel to help meet our ever-growing tourism and business-travel demand. We look forward to receiving the detailed planning application in the coming few weeks.” Residents will get the chance to comment.