Castle Point Council to build new Thorney Bay café

Castle Point Council has submitted a fresh planning application to deliver a new pavilion building and carpark extension after a previous bid to redevelop the seafront fell through at the during the coronavirus pandemic. 

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The plans will see a new cafe pavilion built, with the first floor accommodating a retail space and a viewing platform at the terrace level, and new public toilets.

The existing car park will be extended with 44 new spaces along with upgrades to the sea wall pathway.

Cafe plans (Image: Castle Point Council)

“It’s been a long-time coming but this project will be a big boost for the area and will help Canvey return to being a place people come to for a day out at the beach,” Caveny Island South councillor Barry Campagna said.

“The area has needed regeneration to spruce it up and make it a nicer place to visit, and these plans will do just that,” the Canvey Island Independent Party councillor added.

Cafe viewing platform (Image: Castle Point Council)

The scheme, which will cost £1.72 million in total, will be part-funded by a £1.52 million Coastal Communities Fund grant.

Proposals to regenerate Thorney Bay beach were rubber-stamped in 2019, but fell through during the pandemic as costs sky-rocketed. 

The council decided to redesign the pavilion and omit elements of the design which were deemed “high-risk”. 

Plans show location of new cafe and parking spaces (Image: Castle Point Council)

But the project is back on as the council aims to return Caveny seafront to its glory days as a popular destination for tourists. 

“Since its greatest time of popularity and success in the 1960’s, Canvey Island has suffered from a lack of investment into its public realm,” planning documents state.

The existing car park (Image: Castle Point Council)

“As a result, the area has seen a significant decline as the infrastructure that exists has suffered from general deterioration. 

“Despite this, outstanding efforts by local volunteers, also supported by initiatives by the council, the town council and local businesses, have seeded a renaissance of the seafront area as it proves itself to be increasingly popular with young families and older people seeking a more relaxed experience to nearby Southend.

“This project forms the first part of a phased strategy to regenerate Canvey Island seafront to build on these early efforts and to put in place appropriate infrastructure that will support a visitor experience commensurate with a 21st century seafront destination.”