Final stunning Clifftown Shore flats up for sale

The £125million beachside building on Western Esplanade features 51 sea and park view apartments and penthouses, ranging from £295,000 for one bedroom flats to more than half a million for penthouse apartments – all three of which have now been sold.

Built on the site of the old Esplanade pub and the Marriott’s fish restaurant next door, the complex also features a gym, secure parking and concierge service.

As well as living space the building also includes a restaurant and decadent cocktail bar, run by Elysium Group, all under a state-of-the-art “green living roof”.

Clifftown Shore

The design of the development deliberately reflects the Art Deco heritage of Southend’s seafront and the flowing curves of the façade are said to evoke the “majestic waves” of the estuary.

The Clifftown Shore development has had no end of expensive brochures and online advertising to entice in prospective buyers – of which there is little shortage, even in this rickety economic climate.

Clifftown Shore

But how things have changed when it comes to promoting this part of the borough. Back in the summer of 1861 a few sketches were the best that money could buy in order to advertise the exciting new “Clifftown development” which was springing up.

Illustrations from the time showed the new suburban town destined for “the Cliff” in Southend.

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The project was being carried out by a group of heavyweight contractors and bankers such as renowned railway engineers Sir Morton Peto and Thomas Brassey.

The first stone of the Clifftown development was laid on October 3, 1859. The expansive Clifftown development would take place in stages but the initial phase would see around 124 houses being built at a total cost of £100,000.

Clifftown Shore

The homes would initially be rented out by wealthy tenants who would most likely go on to buy the properties. One of the earliest roads in Clifftown was Nelson Street – known for its unusual raised Yorkstone pavement. Records show that some of the earliest inhabitants were Mr Wheeler, the chemist, Mr Harrison the draper, Mr Wakefield the stationer and Miss Purser who was the town milliner.

Today many buildings in the Clifftown Conservation Area are regarded as important pieces of history.

Clifftown Shore

But the future has to be embraced as well as the past and that’s where Clifftown Shore is undoubtedly destined to be a huge success.

When the sales centre opened, more than 90 people came through the door in a single day: “If you’re going to make a first step onto the property ladder then what a first time this will be,”says Clifftown Shore managing director, James Struth. He has a point – as long as you can afford the price tag of course.