A MAJOR regeneration of Canvey’s seafront has received £1.52 million to help the exciting plans become a reality.

Councillors hope the plans, first published last year, will transform the island’s seafront into a modern holiday destination fit for its thousands of visitors each year.

The ambitious development will include the construction of a new pavilion with a viewing area, a new retail kiosk, increased car parking and an improved walkway to connect Thorney Bay with Canvey’s central seafront.

The plans will also bring improved lighting to allow residents and visitors to enjoy the seafront day and night.

Castle Point Council has been awarded the money from the government’s Coastal Communities Fund which meets the majority of the project’s £1.72 million price tag.

Councillor Ray Howard, who chairs the Castle Point coastal communities team, has welcomed the news.

He added: “We are all delighted that we can now move forward with these plans to revamp the seafront.

“We have all worked incredibly hard to secure this funding and it shows the government has faith that Canvey seafront can be a fantastic destination.

“Canvey is unique and it has a story to be proud of. When I was growing up here, thousands would come from London for the fresh air.

“Then we had the terrible flooding and the government installed the sea walls and while that was going on, the beaches were neglected.

“Friends of Concord Beach and Canvey Bay Watch really have worked hard to enhance them considerably since then and that’s encouraged thousands to come down but we haven’t got the provisions to accommodate them.

“Now we can move forward with this project to make the seafront even better for residents and visitors alike.”

Currently, there is now strict timeline for when the work will be started and completed as disruption will be kept to a minimum.

Mr Howard added: “We wouldn’t want to carry out any work during the peak period because that would cause too much disruption but we will liaise with the seafront traders to determine the best way forward.”