LEIGH Broadway’s former Barclays bank could be transformed into seven flats under fresh plans submitted to Southend Council.

The bank closed its doors in September 2022 and has remained empty ever since.

An initial plan to transform it into a coffee shop and patisserie, with Airbnb rental space above, was rejected by the council over concerns the development would be inappropriate in the area.

Owner Mehmed Hassan, who also owns the Sand Bar, Baboush and Leigh Food Shack, took to Facebook in April to ask residents what they want to see in the building - whether it is a boutique hotel, restaurant, or luxury flats.

Now, plans have been submitted to Southend Council in a bid for the building to be converted into seven flats.

The application would see a new third floor formed on top of the building and the use changed from a bank to “seven self-contained flats”, alongside parking.

Leigh resident Carolyn Goodall has been left disappointed by the decision.

She said: “I think it is quite sad, we have a lot of flats going up everywhere, it seems to be a problem.

“There are flats down the other end of the Broadway by the Grand, it is a shame.”

Carolyne believes that something different is needed for the area, such as a high-end restaurant.

“A hotel would have been decent, a boutique as well. There are a lot of restaurants in Leigh, but I struggle to think of somewhere very nice, what we need is a steak restaurant or something similar,” she said.

“It is a shame, though. More flats that we do not have the infrastructure for which will cause a real issue with parking. You cannot get parked anywhere on the Broadway already.”

Another Leigh resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “The last thing we need in Leigh is more flats. And where are they going to leave their cars? There is nowhere for residents to park as it is.”

Mr Hassan previously announced that the building could be a boutique hotel, restaurant and bar, or luxury flats, and opened up the forum to Leigh residents, asking “what residents think it should be developed into?”.

Echo readers have chimed in previously with their thoughts, with some wanting to see the bank revert to being a bank and others wanting a restaurant. Mr Hassan has been contacted for comment.