THE developer behind a huge £100million seafront scheme which would have seen flats, cafes and bars created has gone into liquidation and the site put up for sale.
Inner London Developments Ltd were behind the ambitious Marine Plaza scheme which gained planning permission in 2015.
But it has now been revealed the company is in liquidation and the land could end up as a car park, boot sale or events site in the short term.
It is understood the site has gone up for sale, for an as yet undisclosed price tag.
The failed project included 282 apartments, restaurants, cafes and bars overlooking the Golden Mile but a series of set-backs, including financial crises and Covid and lockdown prevented it taking off.
The prominent site opposite the Kursaal has long been boarded up and has become overgrown.
Seafront trader Martin Richardson, owner of the Happidrome, has revealed he has taken over management of the site for an offshore owner.
He said: “Where it was just left a total bomb site, that is being completely addressed and cleared and all the vegetation is all being taken away.
“I’m working on behalf of the owners. It’s being totally cleared and then decisions will be made. The site is up for sale and is being marketed but it looks like a derelict piece of land at the moment.
“It’s a complete and utter eyesore. The hoardings have all been tagged with graffiti and it’s right on my door step. Everybody was moaning about it.”
Mr Richardson added: “The Inner London Group were just land agents. The land is owned by people from abroad. It’s got permission for a car park so it’s a possibility that might happen.
“We all know Southend desperately needs parking but until it’s all cleared up and addressed we’ll see what happens. It could be flats, a car park, an events area, a market, a bootsale, concerts, a winter wonderland. There are endless possibilities.”
The huge increase in the cost of building materials in recent years means any new owner of the land is unlikely to go forward with a scheme in its current form.
Inner London Developments Ltd is listed on Companies House as being in liquidation and in the hands of receivers, Greenfield Recovery.
The Echo has made attempts to contact Greenfield Recovery for a statement.
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