A property management company has claimed proper checks have not been done on the environmental impact of a £50million seafront leisure complex - one week after the council said an investigation would not be needed.

The detailed report on the Seaway Leisure complex from RPS Heritage argues that documents submitted to Southend Council to justify not holding investigations into the heritage and ecological impact are “inaccurate” and “flawed”.

Among the issues raised by the company are claims developer Turnstone Estates has failed to undertake a bat survey near to a toilet block on Herbert Road which will be demolished as part of the plans, despite surveys being carried out on houses nearby.

The report says that if the council was to grant planning permission without the survey the decision would be “challengeable” as it could be a breach of legislation on protected species.

However, an October ecological appraisal by Turnstone notes that there is "no external evidence of bat presence".

RPS further challenges Turnstones’ heritage statement, which claims there “is no reason to suppose the development will cause harm” to historic sites near the development site.

The report argues this statement fails to consider the archaeological and historic landscape of Southend, does not consider the “significant impact” on the Clifftown Conservation Area and ignores the “adverse” impact the scheme will have on the St John the Baptist Church on Church Road.

When the church was asked if they have any concerns about the plans, a spokesman said they “would not be commenting” but RPS says views of the sea from the churchyard would be lost and the leisure centre would "tower over" it.

The RPS report adds these issues “cast substantial doubt regarding the heritage assessment’s usefulness”.

The company was employed to examine documents from Turnstone by the Stockvale Group, a company owned by leading Southend businessman and Adventure Island owner Philip Miller.

Mr Miller has been a staunch critic of the scheme and claims that if the leisure centre moves forward, it will mean his family business will become “extinct”.

The director of Turnstone Estates, Tim Deacon, said: “It’s sad to see that vested interests are going all in to hold Southend back and deny residents hundreds of jobs and the opportunity to have the best leisure facilities on their doorstep.

“Seaway Leisure has been years in the making and has continuously evolved to respond to comments from consultees. The proposal to bring big names and state of the art leisure facilities to Southend has already been rigorously tested and further impartially assessed by specialists within Southend Council and landscape and visual impact consultants.

“We believe the key issues raised have been addressed and we are confident planning officers will ensure their committee report sets this out clearly to allow a balanced decision to be made on the application.

“The level of testing means there can be no doubt around Seaway Leisure’s power to provide hundreds of jobs, retain ample parking, deliver £15million for the town centre every year, improve the public realm with a new square and tree planting and enhance the setting of the historic St John’s Church so the whole area will once again have pride of place.”

A council spokesperson said: "A decision has been made on this matter by the council in its role as the Local Planning Authority.

"This decision was based on all of the relevant considerations in accordance with national legislation, our usual practices and the terms of the council's constitution."

The council is expected to discuss planning permission for the Seaway development before Christmas.