Plans for a 15-storey block including more than 200 flats on a car park have been revealed.

A proposal was made to Southend Council to build the block of 228 flats with balconies on every floor, and a series of roof terraces.

A design proposal from agents Weston Homes Plc states: “The proposed scheme is located on the site of the previously demolished Portcullis House.

“It consists of four connected blocks which step down in height from 15 storeys to ten storeys.”

The development will be set in the Portcullis car park, between Alexander House and Baryta House.

Two shops will be built on the ground floor, and a total of 183 parking spaces will be available to residents, 23 of which will be disabled access.

A further 228 spaces will also be made available for bicycles.

The council had previously raised concerns, in February 2017, when the development was initially proposed as 17-storeys high.

The statement said: “The current proposal is set at 15-storeys at its highest point.

“The mass fronting Victoria Avenue has been split into two separate forms to reduce the visual impact.

“An overlooking concern was raised in relation to Baryta House due to its conversion into residential dwellings.”

Another meeting was held with the council before the application was made with enthusiasm shown for the inclusion of the commercial units added.

The full application lays out plans from the developer to make changes to the roads surrounding Victoria Avenue.

The plans, which were designed to complement the Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) is intended to “improve access to shops and significantly improve the public realm and encourage walking”.

The design and access statement added: “The immediate area surrounding the site lacks open spaces, parks and recreation grounds.

“At the local scale, the site is in close proximity to Warrior Square to the south, and Churchill Gardens to the north, which can both be reached by walking within ten minutes.”

The former Portcullis House was demolished in 2013.

The building was previously a 15-storey office space which employed about a thousand people.

Its demolition was agreed with plans for the site to be redeveloped.

A statement from the developers stated: “The buildings within Southend are a mixture of styles and scale.

“The main centre is generally characterised by a mixture of low rise buildings, many of which are Victorian, adjacent to taller tower blocks which have been developed from the 1960s onwards.”

The development will be set close to a number of ongoing developments in Victoria Avenue.

Beaumont Court and Richmond House, further along the road near to the Civic Centre. have been under construction for some time, and now properties are being offered to potential buyers as the flats get closer to being completed for residents.