SWEDISH firm White Arkitekter has won the backing of the council’s cabinet for its design of Southend’s pierhead.

However, the winning proposals the firm put forward for the council competition could well be radically altered as the council works on the scheme with the company over the coming months.

The council hopes to gain £4million from the Government’s Seascape fund for holiday resorts and an extra £1million from other funding.

Anna Waite, councillor responsible for planning, said: “I’m sure we can now work with the architects to build up a final design, which reflects what the council has set out to do.

“The pier is of fundamental importance to the people of Southend and those of us who have lived here a long time appreciate the special place it has for the town.

“I believe with this proposal we will be able to work with the architects to come up with a design which the people of Southend can be comfortable with.

“It reflects the age of the pier and does not take away from it but adds to it. Over the years it has been added to and you could say now we are doing the 21st century bit.”

The cabinet decision will go to a special meeting of the economic scrutiny committee before being finally ratified by the full council on Thursday, November 5.

John Lamb, councillor responsible for regeneration, added he was confident about the future of the landmark. He said: “This is a concept from the company which can be achieved. From the five shortlisted firms we looked at in the competition, three of them just did not come up with what we needed. This has given us what we wanted with an open air space, a restaurant and a multi-purpose indoor area.”