A DEVELOPER fears his plans to regenerate the iconic Grand Hotel in Leigh will not get council officers’ recommendations - and is urging council members to approve the project before it is too late.

An application to transform the former hotel on the Broadway is finally expected to come back before Southend Council’s planning committee at the next meeting on Wednesday, June 14.

But owner Mick Norcross, who is well known for his former role in reality TV show The Only Way is Essex, has told the Echo how he fears council officers will not recommend the plans for approval ahead of the meeting.

He revealed how he has still been unable to come to an agreement with the authority over the provision of affordable housing, which will be reflected in the officers’ report, due imminently.

Mr Norcross is very worried.

He wants to get on with his multi-million pound venture before the characteristic old building falls even further into disrepair.

He has plans for a ground floor restaurant and terrace, a basement wine bar and health club, plus 19 self-contained flats on three floors, as well as a penthouse roof extension.

The 53-year-old said: “There’s an ongoing, back and forth issue at the moment and it’s looking like officers are going to recommend the plans for refusal.”

The report assesses viability by looking at how much the development will cost and how much profit it will make. It also determines the amount of affordable housing needed.

Mr Norcross is hoping that councillors will not feel the need to delay plans any further and approve the project, regardless of what the report suggests.

He added: “Given my commitment to this project and given the state of the building I would hope that permission will be granted so the building can be restored.

“Any further delays will be detrimental to the development. It is a great expense to myself but also means the building will fall further into disrepair.

“I’m always hopeful otherwise I’d have to believe I’m wasting my time.”

The businessman’s concerns were echoed by Leigh resident and town councillor Caroline Parker who is worried delays could mean the loss of yet another of Leigh’s most prominent buildings.

She said: “I hope Southend see sense and accept the proposals.

“Mr Norcross is willing to shell out millions to save a fabulous building. No one else has come forward.

“He is losing so much money every day this is delayed and I wish him the best of luck.

“I don’t know why the council is being so pig-ignorant about it. It’s the only iconic building left in Leigh and if it falls into disrepair I will be the first down to the council to point the finger.”