Bateman’s Café – which has lain unfinished for over six years – could soon be heading for completion after new plans have been submitted.

The building on Brightlingsea’s Promenade Way was designed to float in the event of a flood, but settled badly following a storm surge in early 2020.

According to planning statement submitted to Tendring District Council (TDC) for Seascape Brightlingsea Ltd – café owner Lisa Brown’s business – it was then found that “there were a number of issues in the design, which included the building not being stable” and that it would not be retained within its dock.

With works halted on the two-storey building – which replaced a 60-year-old tin shed – “relations then broke down between the client, designers and builder”, said the statement.

In its current state, the building is not safe to be occupied and “a number of different solutions have been explored by specialist coastal civil engineers”, says the statement. Their solution is to raise the entire building up 500mm on a new concrete foundation – placing it above the expected 1-in-30-year flood level.

“The structure will be floated into its new position by means of erecting a temporary flood wall around the perimeter and then pumping in mass concrete, into the void, to form the new foundation,” says the statement. “The buoyancy to the existing structure will do the heavy lifting.”

The timber cladding on the outside of the building will be replaced with timber-effect weatherboarding in blue and cream to make it appear less industrial and “as a reference to the surrounding beach huts and as a subtle nod to the original building”. Solar panels wil be added on the roof and some windows will be removed.

The statement says that the interior layout has been revised “to make it more building regulations compliant, with the introduction of a lift and an internal stair core, along with the provision of size complaint WC’s and a suitable fire escape strategy”.

A ramp leading from the top of the adjacent sea wall will be added to access the raised building, as well as additional steps. Air source heat pumps will be fitted and services will be raised to minimise the risk of flood damage. Opening hours are expected to be between 6am and 11pm, though may be less.

“The café plays an important role in serving the local community and visitors to the seafront, and without approval of the revised proposals there is a real risk that the building will remain vacant and unused,” says the statement. “The scheme remains broadly consistent with the previously approved development and represents a pragmatic and proportionate response to site constraints.”

After seeking pre-planning advice from TDC, the applicant has been told that officers are likely to support the application. A date for its consideration has not been given.