BASILDON’S supersized nightclub complex will be transformed into three restaurants and a play centre after ambitious plans were given the go ahead.

As part of the revamp, which will increase the number of restaurants at the Festival Leisure Park to 16, there will be more CCTV, a new taxi rank and an area near the cinema for small-scale performances American-themed restaurant chain Coast to Coast, which has 12 branches across Britain, is one of three restaurants already signed up for the Bas Vegas revamp, with the others expected to be named in the New Year.

Under the plans, Liquid, Envy, JJs and New York New York nightclubs will close, with the company which runs them opening a smaller club in the neighbouring former Sky Bar. The new club will be open until 6am from Thursday until Sunday every week. The current clubs close at 4am.

Martin Winter, regional director for the Luminar Group club operator, said: “We are delighted the Festival Leisure Park redevelopment has been given the green light.

“We plan to start work on the new venue within the first three months of 2015.

“In the meantime it is business as usual and our key focus is on continuing to provide a great night out for our customers at Liquid, Envy, New York, New York and JJ’s plus our newly acquired Chicago Rock Cafe venue.”

Basildon Council officers gave the change of use planning applications the go ahead.

They quashed an objection from the Holiday Inn Hotel which raised concerns the noise and disturbances at the parkwould be close to its buildings and its staff would be put at risk.

Council officers said there would be fewer people using the nightclub and it would be subject to noise controls.

Five objections were also lodged about the impact of the play centre might have on existing similar businesses, but there is no council policy to limit competition.