Part of a supermarket car park could be dug up and turned into flats.

Charterhouse Investments Southend Limited is behind the proposals for 53-57 Sutton Road, Southend, which would also see an existing three-storey building partially converted into storage space.

The Co-op, which is based in part of the ground floor of the building, would remain at the site but would see its car park reduced in size for the proposed 17 flats.

Planning documents claim the car park is “oversized” and “underused”.

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Under the proposals, the Co-op would be given 15 parking bays, while another ten would be allocated to the storage unit.

A further 14 spaces would be provided for residents living in the new flats.

The flats themselves would be based in an entirely separate and new three-storey building, Trees and shrubs would be planted around the site to create a softer appearance.

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The planning documents add: “Overall, the proposed development will deliver a range of planning and regeneration benefits in terms of maintaining the locally listed Co-op building, providing a provision of suitable employment floorspace without compromising the building’s integrity, a good proportion of new homes and an activated frontage along Sutton Road.

“In this regard, the proposed development would be in accordance with the broader aspirations of the site allocation.”

No objections or comments have yet been submitted about the plans, which will be ruled on by Southend Council.