Benfleet's fire-hit Furniture Kingdom could become 23 flats

Flames engulfed the derelict Furniture Kingdom store at Tarpots off the A13 in April, with an arson investigation launched in the days after.

The newly submitted proposals, from developer Blok 663 Ltd, would see a range of one and two-bed flats created on the site. A portion of the ground floor would be reinstated as commercial space for shops, offices or hospitality businesses.

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Towers of flames reaching more than 30ft into the sky were accompanied by plumes of black smoke when the Furniture Kingdom fire broke out earlier this year as a roof of one building collapsed.

Blaze - The fire burned through Furniture Kingdom in April (Image: Newsquest)

Firefighters from seven stations across Essex descended on Tarpots and battled the blaze.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service determined the fire was likely started deliberately, and an Essex Police arson investigation launched.

Councillors and residents had previously called for action against the frequent instances of anti-social behaviour that plagued the long-empty site.

Pleased - Andrew Sheldon welcomed the plans (Image: Andrew Sheldon)

Andrew Sheldon, Conservative Essex County Council councillor for South Benfleet, said: “The Furniture Kingdom site has been a magnet for anti-social behaviour since the shop closed.

“As long as the council insist on adequate parking and the developers pay the necessary levy for extra infrastructure I am in favour of this application.

“With the council designating green belt sites as grey belt sites, the green spaces around Benfleet are more at risk than ever, and we need previously developed sites like this to come forward for housing to help take the pressure off them.”

Emergency - Towering flames shot into the air when the fire broke out (Image: Newsquest)

Campaigning residents in Castle Point have also called for previously developed sites to be used for new housing before green belt land is considered.

If approved, it is likely that a Section 106 order would see the developer contribute to a pot of funding that can be used to improve infrastructure and services in the surrounding area.