A CONTROVERSIAL £70million leisure complex on a Southend seafront car park could finally be scrapped after Empire Cinema went into administration.

The cinema chain was set to open a site on the car park on Lucy Road as part of a major leisure development, however no work has taken place despite plans being approved in 2020.

The project was put on hold in December last year, but on Friday Empire Cinema announced it is entering administration and closing six cinemas.

Now, council leader Tony Cox has hinted at scrapping the scheme fully, while seafront trader Paul Thompson admitted this may be "the final nail in the coffin".

According to Sky News, administrators BDO say they are seeking a buyer and have blamed the financial impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, inflation and the cost of living crisis for the closures.

Mr Cox said: “The project that was there on Seaway did not get off the ground as regrettable as it is.

“Empire cited Covid and the world has moved on. But, unfortunately, with the rise of streaming services, cinemas will get phased out.

“My heart goes out to the employees who are facing the loss of their jobs.”

Empire Cinema was also set to open a new site in Basildon Town Centre at the £25million East Square cinema complex, however council bosses revealed on Friday that other cinema chains "have been in contact".

The Seaway leisure complex was due to include an 11-screen Empire Cinema with IMAX, a 20-lane Hollywood Bowl, and a Travelodge hotel on the site of the Lucy Road carpark.

In 2021, the council backed the scheme with a £10 million investment designed to encourage other investors to get on board

Mr Thompson, who has campaigned for the project to not come to be axed, added: “It’s sad to see any business go into administration, but I think what we’re seeing is a sign of the times that cinema’s are not a viable asset anymore.

“I 100 percent welcome the thought of pulling the plug on the Seaway project due to Empire going into administration.

“I think this is the final nail in the coffin for the scheme and there will be red faces from those on the council who wanted the development to go ahead.”

The project was put on hold in December 2022 after the economic turmoil “wreaked havoc” on potential investors.