Plans to redevelop Southend’s historic Empire Theatre site into a five and six-storey block of flats, shops and community spaces are back on track after developers won a planning appeal.
The project, led by local firm SK Architects, will see the long-derelict Alexandra Street site transformed into 27 self-contained flats and six commercial units, with additional first-floor community or residential space, an amenity deck, new street trees, and cycle storage.
Southend Council’s planning officers previously refused the application, objecting to its size, visibility and the effect it would have on the surrounding area. Planning officers said that the proposed development would “demonstrably harm the setting and significance of the surrounding designated heritage assets, namely the setting and appearance of Clifftown Conservation Area.”
Officers also criticised the scheme for failing to offer any affordable housing contributions, adding:
“The submission does not include a formal undertaking to secure appropriate contributions to affordable housing provision to meet the demand for such housing in the area.”
Despite those objections, the government Planning Inspectorate overruled the council’s decision, stating the larger building would not result in unacceptable harm given the varied surrounding architecture.
“Whilst the appeal proposal would be of a larger scale than the buildings either side, given the immediate context of the more varied streetscape to the south and east, I do not consider that unacceptable harm to the streetscape would arise from the bulk and height of the proposed building,” the appeal decision stated.
The Empire Theatre, originally opened in 1896, was a major part of Southend’s entertainment scene before being converted into the ABC Cinema. It closed in 2008, suffered an arson attack in 2015, and then was mostly demolished in 2017 due to repeated vandalism. Since then, the city centre site has remained boarded up and empty.
A spokesperson for SK Architects said:
“After an exceptionally long journey, we are pleased to announce that the Planning Inspectorate has approved our proposals for the Empire Theatre site. This brings together a targeted piece of work for renewal in the heart of the city centre and includes Tyler’s Avenue, which was also approved at appeal towards the end of 2024.
“We believe these schemes are transformational and will lead to aspirational City Centre living, working and relaxing by the sea.”
The other planning scheme that the firm secured approval for previously at appeal is a 14-storey tower of 58 flats, on the site of the former Churchill’s bar in Tyler’s Avenue.