Plans for a new hotel and more than 200 flats on Southend seafront have been given the green light by local authorities.

According to the Southend Standard, the Robert Leonard Group has received planning permission for the multimillion-pound redevelopment of the Esplanade House site in Eastern Esplanade. The company plans to demolish Esplanade House and erect a 12-storey development - known as 63 East - of 216 flats, a 64-room four-star hotel, a restaurant and shops.

The hotel would consist of four blocks, ranging between four and 12-storeys high, plus a piazza and underground car parking. Perry Gamon, managing director of Robert Leonard, is reported to have said that he expects the building to be knocked down by the summer and decontamination of the site to take a year.