THE restoration of a landmark office building ravaged by fire is set to be scuppered by council chiefs.

Planners at Southend Council have recommended plans to convert Courtway House, in Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, into nine flats and shops are thrown out by councillors when they meet next week. The early 20th-century building was reduced to a smouldering wreck by a huge inferno in May 2011.

Owner Jefferies Solicitors relocated to Dencora House, in Tylers Avenue, Southend, but originally intended to move back into its home when the work to restore it to its former glory was completed.

The firm pulled out of that move last month , claiming it would be too expensive to do so.

However, planning officers said that did not justify the loss of office space in a prominent location.

Andrew Lewis, corporate director for enterprise, tourism and the environment, said: “Officers are of the view that it has not been clearly demonstrated that the premises are no longer viable as offices.

“No marketing or information specific to new office space in this area has been submitted.

“In light of that, the principle of residential development to the upper floors is considered unacceptable.”

In the wake of last year’s blaze, engineers ruled Courtway House was no longer structurally safe and the building was demolished three months later.

However, before the bulldozers moved in, architects took moulds of its intricate facade.

Jefferies wants to replicate those details on the new building, using a form of foam which mimicks the look of stone.

It claimed the amount of office space lying unused elsewhere in the town, in places such as Victoria Avenue, proved there was no demand for it.

A spokesman for BGA Architects, the planning agent hired by Jefferies, said: “Last year, approval was granted for the building to be demolished. The application was based on the former tenant of the building returning to the site when it was rebuilt.

“However, the tenants later decided that, due to the cost implications and upheaval of relocating for a second time, they would remain in their new offices.

“The owners of Courtway House could not, therefore, build a speculative office building, knowing there is in excess of one million square feet of vacant office space in the area.”

Councillors will make a final decision on the plans at the meeting of the development control committee on December 12.