Old Southend offices could be set to become eight storey tower block

The site has already been turned into a six storey block with 60 flats.

New plans have been submitted to add another ten flats over two floors, as well as nine additional parking spaces.

Two of the new flats will be added to the existing sixth floor, while the other eight will be spread between the new seventh and eighth floors, all with private balconies.

Planning documents say the extra floors will make the building reflect the “height and scale of adjacent structures” and will comprise of “high-quality and well-designed roof apartments which meet customer expectations”.

Applicant Skarchitects also claims that the new flats will protect the privacy of neighbouring properties.

The planning documents add: “The proposed rooftop apartments design has been developed to meet the client’s aspirations and follows discussions with the local planning authority.

“We believe the proposal will create a high quality and appropriate small number of additional rooftop apartments to further renew and regenerate the A127 Victoria Avenue Primary Vehicular Artery into Southend town centre and central seafront.”

Construction of the 60 flats was approved in 2017 and since then the building has been extensively remodelled with new brickwork and a completely new internal layout. The flats are at various stages of completion and one has been fully completed.

Skarchitects says that with the development being close to several other former office buildings which have had similar redesigns, it has created a “gateway into the town centre bringing life back into a long redundant and inactive urban space”.

Members of the planning committee will decide whether to grant planning permission for the extension at a future meeting.

The flats are part of a number of developments where redundant offices are being converted into flats to cater for the growing need in the Southend borough.

The council is currently working on a homes plan for the coming years.