Fresh plans to build a 60-bedroom hotel on Southend's derelict gasworks site on the seafront have been drawn up.

Barratt Eastern Counties has stepped in with the plan for the land, at Eastern Esplanade, after after two failed attempts to build a new hotel on the expansive seafront site over the past five years.

Under the plan, revealed in a private meeting of the borough council cabinet, the hotel would be built fronting the seafront with new homes behind it. There are hopes that the project will play a key part in the rejuvenation of Southend.

David Garston, Southend's Tory executive councillor for regeneration, said: "We have been trying to get a scheme up and running at the site and this one seems great.

"I am really pleased the company has shown confidence in our town and it knows that any good hotel will be really well supported."

Barratt has now been given until December 21 to come up with detailed plans.

For more on this story see www.business-in-essex.co.uk

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