A planning application has been submitted to Southend Council this week in the hope of creating another coffee shop in the area as well as transforming the top floor into a flat.
If approved, it will join the likes of popular cafes Stop the World, The Brunch, and Corner Club on the Broadway.
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Boots has been empty on the Broadway since last March (Image: Google Maps)The site has been empty since Boots Chemists closed in March last year.
Leigh Lib Dem councillor Carole Mulroney welcomed the plans to fill the space, but queried the amount of coffee shops cropping up in the area.
She said: “Boots was obviously an integral part of the Broadway community for a very long time, but it never had a very inspiring shop front.
“I would welcome anyone bringing in business to the Broadway, especially if they’re independent and not part of a chain. I would question whether we need another coffee shop. There are already plenty along that road, but in the end the market will decide.”
The Broadway is a hotspot for independent business in Leigh (Image: Google Maps)The closure meant the nearest Boots store for residents collecting prescriptions was on London Road, Hadleigh.
Despite her concerns, Ms Mulroney said she would much rather see a coffee shop than an empty shop.
According to the recently submitted planning application, the development would comprise a coffee shop at ground-floor level and a self-contained residential flat above.
It has been lodged with Southend Council by property agent, Elegant Architectural, on behalf of an applicant named only as Mr N Trim.
In the application’s attached Heritage Statement, the applicant says the redevelopment of the vacant Boots store would significant add to the Broadway’s character.
They said: “The coffee shop will provide an active frontage, contributing to the commercial vibrancy of the Broadway, while the upper-floor flat will address local housing needs.
“By repurposing the building, the proposal avoids the risk of further deterioration, safeguarding the structure for future generations.
“The proposed modifications have been designed to respect the character of the conservation area and will ensure the building continues to contribute positively to Leigh-on-Sea’s heritage for years to come.”