NEW plans to bring Westcliff’s empty and rundown Balmoral Hotel, back into use have been revealed by the man who bought it earlier this year.

Daniel Nyman, of Inconstruction Services bought the Valkyrie Road building in March and has now announced plans to convert it into 22 flats.

A series of attempts to get permission to use the building as flats, bedsits or a nursing home have failed in the three years it has been empty.

However, Mr Nyman says he has high hopes Southend council will back his £880,000 bid to convert the hotel into a mixture of luxury and affordable flats.

Southend architects’ practice APS Designs Associates says the proposal would fit in with several regeneration projects along the road.

APS director Paul Seager explained: “This would make a massive difference to the regeneration of the area and will give it a huge lift. We are hopeful of getting planning permission. Work will start immediately if we get it.

“It will bring several more flats into the market, which are very much in demand.”

Other regeneration projects in Valkryie Road include turning a former snooker hall into a health centre and building a new doctor’s surgery on the corner of Canewdon Road.

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

Images supplied by APS show what the hotel would look like redeveloped

 

The hotel’s previous owner was given planning permission to build 25 flats last year, a plan which involved demolishing the building.

Mr Nyman’s company wants to keep the existing building, refurbishing it and extending it at the back.

Mr Seager said: “Particular care has been taken to retain a similar design to that of the previously approved scheme.”

The new plan would create 19 one, two, and three-bedroom flats for sale, plus three affordable homes.

Southend Council’s development control committee is due to consider the plans on September 10.

Mr Nyman said: “A lot of developers want to squeeze in as many apartments as they can.

“These certainly won’t be shoeboxes.

There will be a mixture of affordable and nice, luxury, apartments.”