A new Southend lifeboat station is a step closer to being built after councillors backed plans to revamp the RNLI's base on the pier.

Town planners said the scheme was good news for the town and lifeboat workers were delighted with the approval.

Southend Council's group manager of development John Collins said: "It's actually a very good scheme and it's very well put together architecturally speaking.

"The building is a major tourist attraction for Southend and this will be a major enhancement of the pier."

Southend RNLI spokesman Alan Butler said: "It's another step along the road to providing a new facility and we are very pleased things are moving ahead."

The council has already earmarked £200,000 to help with the reconstruction of the sun deck around the top of the station.

It is estimated the new station will cost around £500,000, including a glazed tower staircase leading up to a sun deck.

The ground floor of the station will house a boathouse for two lifeboats.

There will also be a workshop, changing facilities as well as a souvenir shop with a public viewing section and a disabled toilet facility.

Upstairs will include a crew training area with a galley kitchen and office.

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