Multiple plans to restore empty buildings in Southend

With internet shopping hitting an all-time high during lockdowns, and the economic pressure caused by Covid hitting retailers, a number of plans have emerged to turn commercial units in the town centre into flats and homes. 

Here's what we know about the plans for these historic town centre buildings:

86 High Street

RMJ Partners wants to convert the old KFC restaurant at 86 High Street into four flats.

The scheme would see the ground floor still allocated for commercial use.

The flats would be based on the first and second floors, with two turned into studios and the others into two-bedroom apartment.

In its design and access statement, RMJ says the second floor would be extended and a new pitched roof added to the back of the building.

The applicant says the proposals are respectful to the area and would not impact on the neighbouring properties on either side.

The planning details do not state if there is a potential business lined up to move into the proposed commercial ground floor space.

Similar proposals to install five flats and keep the commercial ground floor were dismissed last year amid concerns about a “poor outlook and unacceptable sense of enclosure”.

122-124 High Street

Fattal Capital is looking for planning permission to convert the old Miss Selfridge shop, which has been empty since 2019.

The new plans submitted for the building, which is thought to have been built in the 1930s, would see the ground floor commercial space turned into two shops.

An extension to the roof would be made to allow space to create up to nine flats on the three floors above the shops.

Read more:

• 'More homes and less shops needed to bring our high street to life'
• New jobs created as bulk-buy supermarket opens for the first time

There are currently four flats based on the first and second floors.

A new three-storey building is also proposed to the back of the site which would provide space for a house for multiple occupation.

Fattal Capital says the proposals will “revitalise a vacant but prominent building” in High Street, and contribute to “urban regeneration” of the town centre.

It also claims improvements will bring life to the area and help reduce crime.

No objections have yet been raised by consultees or the public.

119 High Street

A new fast-food restaurant could be set to takeover the now empty shop building.

Plans have been submitted to change the use of 119 High Street, in Southend, from retail to restaurant.

The building was formerly home to the Beauty Palace.

Tariq Ahmed is the applicant behind the plans and despite little information being included in the planning application, drawings suggest it will become home to Fast Food outlet, Sam’s Chicken.

The firm has around 48 outlets across the country, with dozens based around London.

It offers a range of fried and peri-peri chicken, wraps, sides such as fries and mozzarella dips, and even sweet treats like apple pies.

If the plans are approved, it would be Sam’s Chicken’s first restaurant in Essex.

28 Clifftown Road

Mr J Reed is seeking planning permission to change the use of the Indian restaurant Keralam in Southend to residential.

The plans are for the ground and basement floors only, where the Keralam restaurant operates.

The planning statement goes on to add the addition of two new flats would help to add to affordable housing in Southend and coincide with the first and second floor of the building which is also flats.

No car parking spaces would be made available to occupants of the ground and basements floor flats due to their close proximity to Southend rail station.

26 Clarence Street

Stockvale, the parent company of Adventure Island and other Southend hotspots, is behind the plans for the Clarance Yard restaurant in Clarence Street.

If agreed, the development would see the restaurant and offices converted into four new flats.

Bosses have announced they plan to close the venue for good amid a decline business. 

A planning statement to Southend Council says: “Following significant investment to restore and refurbish the property, the applicant has run Clarence Yard as an establishment in addition to their numerous other premises in the area and predominantly along the seafront.

“However, even prior to the pandemic, the business was becoming unviable with the lack of footfall within what has become a more residential-led street.”

And one that hasn't quite worked out...

Proposals to install five flats and a café in a narrow High Street building have been rejected.

Southend Council has thrown out Malken Estates’ proposals for 120 High Street, which is currently occupied on the ground floor by retailer GAME.

The applicant had submitted the plans after claiming GAME was looking to move out of the site and relocate elsewhere in Southend.

It was hoped a dessert bar of café would be found to occupy the front of the ground floor, meaning the commercial use of the building would be partially retained.

But planning officers have rejected the plans amid concerns the proposed apartments would be too cramped and lead to “inadequate living conditions”.

Malken Estates could yet appeal the decision.