PLANS for a new £35million Southend museum have taken a step forward.

Detailed images have ben released of the museum, which would be built into the seafront cliffs to house the Saxon King remains.

Manchester-based AEW Architects, who won the competition to design the museum, have produced the images which show the high grade interior including an atrium and restaurant, as well as how the four “eyelid” shaped sections will nestle into the cliffs.

Walkways will surround the unusual building and most of the structure will be beneath the level of the pavement of Clifftown Parade.

The building, which promises to boost tourism to the town, will also serve to help shore up the cliffs following the landslip which took place in 2003.

Consultation on the plans starts on January 3 when they will be available to view on Southend Council’s website.

The planning application is due to be submitted at the end of March.

Derek Jarvis, cabinet member responsible for culture at Southend Council, said: “The architects’ drawings are to give the development control committee and residents an idea of what the finished article will look like.

“The Victorian walkways will be retained in the cliffs as they were before the slip. It will all be fully disabled access friendly too.

“There will be a wonderful aspect of the pier and the estuary and a wonderful lighting effect when you look back at the building at night.

“From the top of the cliffs you will still be able to see the vista across the estuary, but the planetarium will be below the cliffs.”

It is expected to take between five and ten years to build and work may start in 2015.

Southend Council is expected to fund £10million of the cost with the rest to be met from a variety of sources.

Mr Jarvis said: “Once it is approved we want to get on with supporting the cliffs, the walls and foundations will help do that. The second thing is to chase funding. We know we have to work hard.

“In the kitty we have whatever we get from the Beecroft art gallery and Central Museum as assets. We believe they are worth about £6million.

“We know we have some years to work this up. We have to pursue all routes we can such as benefactors, public subscriptions, culture and heritage funding processes and we may try to seek European funding due to the Saxon King interest.

“We think it is achievable and do hope residents and visitors see this will be iconic and will vie with the pier to be one of the places that must be seen in Southend.”