Plans to pull down an abandoned building and replace it would modern-looking flats have been unveiled.

The scheme would see the former second-hand furniture show room at 659 - 665 London Road, Westcliff, demolished and replaced by a five-storey building featuring 20 apartments.

Retail units for two businesses would also be set up on the ground floor.

Echo: How the building looks nowHow the building looks now

SKARCHITECTS says the site, which lies next to the Tesco Express and Havens Hospice shop, has been empty for more than three years and is in "desperate need of renewal".

Similar plans to replace the abandoned building with flats were approved several years ago.

But planning permission has since expired amid concerns the old scheme was 'undeliverable'. The applicants behind the new plans say the new flats and shop will help improve the area both visually and economically.

Echo: Image of how the new flats and shops building would lookImage of how the new flats and shops building would look

In their planning statement, they said: “The proposed residential development at 659-665 London Road will continue the regeneration of this part of Westcliff, providing an exceptionally high quality contextually referenced development removing the unneighbourly dilapidated commercial use to improve surrounding amenity and provide affordable housing growth on a sustainable location to significantly enhance this part of the townscape.”

All of the flats would come with parking, cycle storage and have access to a bin store.

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Parking space would be created at the back of the development and accessed off Fleetwood Avenue.

No objections have yet been raised over the proposals.

Southend Council will have the final say.