Residents and visitors are being given the chance to discuss plans for a proposed new museum in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, as part of a council-organised consultation.

Manchester-based AEW Architects has been selected to design the new attraction and will be on hand at a seafront location opposite the pier for three days a week until 30 September. The £35m development is set to be built at the resort's Cliff Gardens and will display artefacts from the Saxon King's burial chamber in Prittlewell, which were uncovered during an archaeological dig in 2003.

SSBC executive councillor for culture Derek Jarvis said: "Responses from members of the public have already influenced the development of the plans. For instance, there is a lot of support for formal planted areas on the Cliffs Gardens, so we will be looking very closely at these. "Many people have also welcomed the prospect that the museum, built into the Cliffs, would not affect the panoramic estuary views from the Cliff Town area of Southend.

Buro Happold and Turner and Townsend have also been appointed to work on the museum, which will also house collections currently at the resort's Central Museum and the Beecroft Art Gallery.