“PRESTIGE” car brand Porsche has revealed plans to open a showroom in Southend.

The leading German manufacturer, known for producing the iconic 911 sports car, is to set up shop in Stephenson Road, Eastwood, in the old Mercedes Benz dealership which fronts the A127.

Plans submitted to Southend Council reveal a proposal to demolish the former Mercedes Benz dealership and build a two-storey Porsche showroom. If approved by the council, it would be the first Porsche centre in Southend, with one councillor labelling it a “welcome investment”.

Documents reveal it will create up to 42 jobs with a training facility, which will have a focus on electric vehicles. If approved the redeveloped site at the Progress Road Industrial Estate would house a workshop with 13 bays, offices and an MOT-testing facility.

Paul Collins, Lib Dem Eastwood Park ward councillor and council member for finance, assets and investments, said he hopes plans for the redevelopment can be approved soon.

He said: “I am happy to see a new build in the industrial area. I hope it will create more jobs for people and be a boost for the area. It is very pleasing to see an international and well-known company like Porsche making this type of commitment and investment into Southend and Eastwood.

“It is a welcome investment. I am also happy that the building will continue to be used for the same purposes that it is currently used for. There seems to be nothing outrageous about the planning application and it is not in a residential area so hopefully it can be approved soon.”

According to the planning statement, the centre will have a contemporary design and its appearance will be of a “prestige nature”.

Robert McMullan, fellow Lib Dem councillor for Eastwood Park, said: “It is good to see proposals for a recently empty site being brought back into use, and certainly pleasing to see investment and hopefully local jobs being created. So on the face of it, it’s a positive development.”

The redeveloped site will feature charging points for electric and hybrid cars, and will look to reduce its CO2 emissions and energy consumption by using LED lighting and attaching photovoltaic panels to the full roof area.