THE £10million expansion of a seafront hotel adored by celebrities could begin within months once Southend Council removes “unfair” restrictions on the plans.
The Roslin Beach Hotel, on Thorpe Esplanade, was initially given the green light for a major revamp to create extra rooms, a spa and more parking to cement its spot as the “jewel in the crown” of the seafront in 2022.
However, progress has been hampered after restrictions placed on the proposals meant non-hotel guests would have had to leave the venue by 11pm, nullifying the benefits of the expansion.
It is hoped the expansion, which will see part of the hotel demolished and replaced with a three-storey extension and five plush new rooms, will help make the hotel a go-to destination for fancy weddings and events.
Now, Southend Council’s development control committee is set to remove the planning condition at a development control meeting next week and managing director Jacqui Dallimore is confident it will mean work can start in the new year.
She said: “This relates to the condition for planning, which for some reason got put in and would mean people would have to leave by 11pm, which is when we have weddings going on and anniversary parties. Changing this allows us to finally start work, this must be done and then it starts.
“The restriction is frustrating, we have never had any issues or nuisances at the Roslin ever.
“It is exciting, it is transformative, and it will make the Roslin become the absolute jewel in the city of Southend. This expansion will be so beautiful, and hopefully this could start early next year.”
Once removed, the hotel will be allowed to stay open to non-guests until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.
Jacqui added that the development will likely take a year once the work gets underway.
The business has attracted the likes of Tyson Fury and Denise Van Outen in recent years alongside other famous faces.
Jacqui added: “Hopefully this will make sense to fix and there is no reason it shouldn’t, we can’t chuck people out of a wedding, that would be ludicrous.
“We do 20 charity events, imagine if we had to say ‘you must leave now’, it doesn’t make sense and this has held us up.
“The rule we have in place for the rest of the hotel has been there for more than 15 years.”
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