A decision on one of Southend’s most controversial developments will happen next week if the council receives the results of a government review.

It is the second time a meeting on the £50million Seaway Leisure plan has been scheduled after the first was pulled less than 24 hours before it was due to take place when objectors called on the secretary of state to review whether more information on the environmental impact was needed.

Adventure Island boss Philip Miller and the former chair of the Seafront Traders Association Paul Thompson claimed that developer Turnstone needed to undertake an environmental assessment at the Seaway Car Park site, off Lucy Road, prior to building there.

But the council has stressed that they have taken extensive legal advice on the issue and they are confident all the necessary paperwork has been received.

They are so confident the secretary of state will side with them that they have scheduled a meeting to decide on planning permission, despite not knowing the outcome of the government review.

A council report published ahead of the January 15 Development Control Committee explained that the meeting date has been set because the secretary of state had 21 days to undertake the review and that deadline has now passed.

A decision is expected “imminently”.

The report added: “In the event that a decision from the secretary of state is not received before the date of the committee, or the secretary of state determines that an Environmental Statement is required, then the meeting will be cancelled.”

Plans to redevelop the car park have been under heavy scrutiny from councillors and the public for more than five years.

Turnstone claims it will bring the “best leisure experience” to Southend with an 11-screen cinema, a 20-lane bowling alley, a hotel and restaurants. The developer has also said it will generate an additional £15million each year for the local economy and create around 500 jobs.

But the plans have faced fierce opposition from nearby businesses on the seafront, most notably from Mr Miller who has claimed his business will be forced to close if the leisure complex was to go ahead.

The prominent Southend businessman employed the consultancy firm RPS through his business the Stockvale Group to scrutinise Turnstone’s planning documents and it was RPS that made the official referral to the secretary of state.

In a letter they submitted the government at the end of November, RPS said the environmental assessment should be a binding requirement for the development and criticised several elements of the plans including the lack of detail on air pollution, the danger it poses to nearby trees and its size.

Council officers have recommended planning permission is granted at next week’s meeting.

Mr Miller said: "This is an act of desperation on the councils behalf jumping the gun before getting clearance from the Secretary of State.

"One could almost say [the council] have predetermined the outcome.

"Pressure is being placed on coalition councillors by their leaders.

"This whole deal from start to finish has been surrounded in controversy.

"Even councillors do not know the terms of the deal.

"I mean how can you flog a ten million pound site for a quid and expect support from the tax payers of the town."