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Plans to demolish the Hype Gallery, on the corner of the Broadway and West Street, are set to be heard at appeal after Southend Council rejected plans last October.
Under the proposals, the building which was previously home to Costa Coffee – would be demolished and then rebuilt to include three flats and retail space on the ground floor.
According to Marcus Mursell, co-owner of the gallery, it would move out for a year as part of the plan submitted by Southend businessman John Remblance.
He said: “We could be forced to move out for a year but it would make the site better, around the rear of the property kids congregate it is quite horrible back there.
“If they have to redevelop the site, it would be for the better and for a better gallery, i’d prefer that even if we had to move for a year. I can’t see much of a downside.”
Green Party councillor for Leigh, Richard Longstaff, has called for the plans to be rejected by a Government inspector who will hear the appeal.
He said: “What I just cannot understand is why you would want to demolish the historic fabric of the building, you can’t extend the flank wall out, it is historic London building stock.
“To me it feels like overdevelopment, they want to make the roof larger for all tenants and transform it into three flats and a retail unit.
“However, in my experience, Southend council planners are pros, they know what they can refuse and what they cannot, they can play this game with developers.”
The plans were initially rejected due to the impact on the Leigh Cliff conservation area and the “failure to comply with building regulations.”
Mr Longstaff added that he does not believe the original reasons for throwing out the plan were “taken lightly” but believes the appeal should be fairly assessed, nonetheless.
“They must look at the case on its merits, I think the inspector will agree with the council, but they may also say this is a misjudgement by our planners.
“I just feel the owners should work in the existing constraints of the building and then, they wouldn’t really be able to do what they want to do.
“This is at the end of a terrace.
“It will affect neighbouring businesses and I have seen things like this collapse in Leigh before.
“It will be terribly disruptive to the adjoining business owner, it just feels like a flawed concept really.”
Mr Remblance and his company Star Amusements has been contacted for comment.
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