A FORMER theatre in the centre of Southend will be transformed into plush flats and a row of shops despite concerns over a lack of affordable housing.

The former Empire Theatre, which later became the ABC cinema, has already been partially demolished and now will be fully razed to the ground and replaced with 22 flats in Alexandra Street.

At Wednesday night’s development control meeting, a committee member heard that providing affordable housing was “financially unviable” to the developer.

It was argued that because of the site’s location, in the heart of the city, “insisting on social housing could detract from the design quality”.

However, Daniel Cowan, leader of the Labour Group, was not happy about the deal. He said: “I am probably going to vote against this but purely on the lack of affordable housing. We have a robust policy for affordable housing provision and this does not meet that. Where viability comes into it, what I personally believe is if your building isn’t viable within the realms of our affordable housing policy, then it shouldn’t be built.”

Richard Longstaff, Green Party councillor for Leigh Ward, said: “I totally understand councillor Cowan’s point and I do agree we ought to be supporting social housing but the problem is we are in a difficult financial situation.

“If we insisted on social housing in this building, we will detract from the design quality and what you would have is a carbuncle in the centre of our city and we do not need any more carbuncles in our city.

“It’s within the heart of the city and we must maintain design quality. I think the design quality overrides the provision of social housing.”

When 17 of the flats have been sold, there will be a further affordability review and the council could receive 60 per cent of any increase in value of the flats. The plans include six commercial units on the ground floor.

Ron Woodley, Residents First councillor for Thorpe Ward, said: “Any properties fronting a street where parking charges apply can result in a permit costing £50 a year to park on those streets. If that is the case and if the 22 take up that offer, that could be a loss of over £70,000 a year in parking revenue.”

Councillors voted 11 for and two against the scheme.

'We're disappointed flats got go-ahead'

The Milton Conservation Society said it was disappointed the flats on the site of the former New Empire Theatre had been approved.

The society had objected to the plans over the “mass and scale” of the building, lack of parking and the design.

Following the approval, Andy Atkinson, chairman of the society, said: “It’s obviously very disappointing to see a bulky, out-of-context building approved in an historic part of Southend.

And especially disappointing that the officers at committee didn’t include a heritage officer.

“There is now a big risk of further five-storey plus blocks of flats with sea views interesting developers in this low-rise part of the city close to the seafront, so this decision could lead to further loss of small scale Clifftown and it’s gentle bohemian feel, which would be tragic for our city.”

The vacant old theatre was demolished after falling into decay and becoming a magnet for vandals.

Mike Gray, managing director of Dedman Gray, who will be marketing the apartments, said:

“I’m delighted to at last see this development moving forward with planning consent. It’s such an important site for regeneration.

“I’m pleased to see the scheme incorporates commercial space linking Alexandra Street and Clarence Road activities together and also brings further quality residential accommodation to the city centre, which is much needed.”